Heat Wave to Endanger Over 100 Million Next Week

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning about a severe heat wave set to impact parts of the Midwest and Northeast regions, beginning Sunday and lasting through the end of the next week. This will be the first major heat wave of the year for these regions.

According to the NWS Weather Prediction Center, the heat wave will start in the Midwest on Sunday, then spread to the Northeast over the following days, potentially lasting until at least Thursday. The agency has cautioned that daytime temperatures could soar to 105 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, while nighttime temperatures are expected to remain in the mid-70s in major cities.

Forecasts indicate that cities like Chicago, New York, Washington D.C., and Philadelphia will experience heat indices—an indicator that combines temperature and humidity to show how hot it feels—above 90 degrees for most of next week. Detroit and Pittsburgh could face some of the highest temperatures in the region, with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees for several days.

The NWS has also highlighted a 40-60% chance that the excessive heat could persist until next Friday in the Northeast and until June 24 in the Midwest.

The extreme temperatures significantly increase the risk of rapid onset or flash droughts across parts of the eastern Corn Belt and Mid-Atlantic, according to the Weather Prediction Center.

AccuWeather forecasts suggest two potential scenarios for the upcoming heat wave. In the first scenario, around 110 million people in the affected regions could experience daily high temperatures ranging from 90 to 100 degrees. In a more extreme scenario, if a stronger high-pressure system develops, over 135 million people could be impacted, with temperatures reaching 100 degrees in many areas.

The Weather Channel reports that Summer 2024 is on track to be one of the hottest summers on record in the United States. The heat is expected to intensify in July, with most of the country experiencing above-average temperatures through September. This prolonged period of extreme heat underscores the importance of staying informed and taking necessary precautions to stay safe during the heat wave.