National Weather Service Forecasts High Temperatures Across Central and Eastern United States This Week

The National Weather Service stated on Sunday that a long and dangerous heat wave will affect a large swath of the central and eastern United States for the upcoming week. The Washington Times reported that temperatures will rise ahead of the July Fourth holiday and feel even hotter due to high humidity.

More than 130 million Americans across southern and Great Plains states were under moderate to severe heat risk conditions on Sunday according to NWS maps.

Parts of the southwest, especially Phoenix and central Texas, already experienced temperatures of about 100 F that day. NWS meteorologist Bryan Putnam said several days of high temperatures, some above 100 F, will settle in across the lower Great Lakes, the mid-Atlantic and the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys.

Some record highs could be set later in the week from the lower Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic and New England.

East coast cities including New York City, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore will experience high temperatures. Midwestern and Great Lakes cities such as Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit will also see high temperatures, as will southern cities including Dallas, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Memphis, Tennessee.

High heat will last into next weekend across the Great Plains, the south-east and the mid-Atlantic, the NWS said. Temperatures will reach well into the 90s and low 100s F. High humidity will lead to heat indexes of 100-110 F, and as high as 115 F.

AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys said temperatures will be above normal. Washington DC July Fourth holiday average highs are about 89 F and Indianapolis average highs are about 85 F, with both cities expected to be 10 or 11 F above those averages. Nightly lows in the 70s F or even high 80s F will not provide much relief.