Topline
The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for millions of Americans in several major cities in the Northeast and Midwest, including New York, Chicago, Boston and Detroit, as a multi-day heat wave is expected to bring dangerous and potentially record-breaking triple-digit temperatures.
New York and Chicago could both see heat index values reach up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Key Facts
The heat wave is expected to bring daily high temperatures between 90 and 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout much of the Midwest and Northeast this week, but high humidity will push the heat index values, or “feels like” temperature, up to high values of 110 degrees in some regions.
New York is facing an extreme heat warning that remains in effect through Wednesday evening, with expected heat index values reaching up to 110 degrees and little temperature relief overnight.
The heat wave could approach daily and all-time temperature records in parts of the city, the NWS in New York warned—the all-time high temperature recorded in Central Park was 106 degrees in 1936, while the highest temperature on record at John F. Kennedy International Airport was 104 degrees in 1966.
Chicago is also facing an extreme heat warning active through Thursday night, with forecasters at the NWS warning of peak afternoon heat index values reaching highs of 110 degrees.
The heat wave is also bearing down on several other major Midwestern cities, including Des Moines, Detroit, and Columbus.
Several parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, Ohio, Missouri and other states were placed under the NWS’s highest level of heat risk for Tuesday, including parts of Chicago, St. Louis and Atlanta, which warns of risk of a “rare level of extreme heat” that could be dangerous for the entire population without proper cooling and hydration.
Health Risks During the Heat Wave
Extreme heat can cause heat-related illness in anyone, the Centers for Disease Control warns, but some people are at a higher risk for conditions like heat stroke and heat exhaustion. These include people with heart disease or asthma, pregnant women, seniors over the age of 65, young children and people working outside in the heat. The CDC recommends everyone take active steps to stay cool, including staying in the shade outside or remaining inside with proper air conditioning. Drink plenty of water and limit beverages with high sugar, caffeine or alcohol. People facing extreme heat should also watch for symptoms of heat-related illnesses—heat exhaustion can commonly cause headaches, nausea, dizziness and sweating, while heat stroke can result in confusion, slurred speech, seizures and even loss of consciousness.
What to Watch For
The extreme heat is expected to move east as the week progresses, hitting the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area by the start of the Independence Day holiday weekend. The heat could break Fourth of July records in the city, and potentially threaten festivities for the country’s 250th anniversary.