Topline
States in the Midwest will face high temperatures in the coming days during the summer’s first “dangerous” heat wave, according to the National Weather Service, which said the potentially record-setting weather will bear down on the East Coast by Sunday and last well into next week.
Key Facts
An expanding heat wave hitting the Southwest and Rockies will shift by the weekend to produce “the most oppressive heat of the season to date” from the Midwest to the Northeast this weekend and next week, according to a Thursday statement from the NWS.
Widespread maximum temperatures will likely be tied or broken across the Upper/Middle Mississippi Valley to the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic over the next several days, the NWS said in a Saturday update.
Major and/or extreme heat risks will spread further into the Midwest and East Coast come Sunday, “where anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration will be affected,” the NWS added.
By Saturday: The heat wave will begin in Minneapolis, Kansas City, Mo., Des Moines, Iowa, Memphis, Tenn., St. Louis, Milwaukee, Chicago, Indianapolis and Detroit.
By Sunday: The heat wave should reach Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, N.Y., Nashville, Tenn., Atlanta, Charlotte, N.C., Richmond, Va., Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Albany, N.Y.
By Monday: The heat wave will hit Boston, Hartford, Conn., and Concord, Mass.
The NWS reported sunny skies, light winds and little overnight cooling will contribute to the heat wave and “significantly increase the danger” of extreme heat, the number one cause of weather-related deaths.
Although the hottest temperatures are expected during the weekend, there is a moderate risk extreme heat will persist into later next week for parts of the Ohio Valley and East Coast states (New York could see 100-degree temperatures on Monday or Tuesday).
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Big Number
170 million. That is roughly how many people will be affected by the scorching heat, according to AccuWeather, with AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter noting “an amplified risk of heat-related illnesses because this is the first heat wave of the year for millions of people, and their bodies are not yet acclimated to this type of heat and humidity.”
What To Watch For
Record temperatures. The NWS said several daily record highs and warm lows are likely this weekend into next week. Chicago and Detroit’s daily high temperature records are both 105, while the highest temperature ever observed in New York City is 106.
What States And Cities Will Be Impacted By The Heat Wave?
Much of South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas felt the heat Friday and are still seeing 90-degree temperatures. By Saturday, temperatures in the low 90s are forecast to reach Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland. Cities with major or extreme heat risks over the weekend include Chicago, Omaha, Neb., Kansas City, Mo., Indianapolis and Louisville, Ky. Those heat risks are forecast for Detroit, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, N.Y., Washington D.C., Richmond, Va., New York City and Albany, N.Y.
Will 2025 Top 2024—the Hottest On Record—as Climate Change Heats Up Planet?
2024 was the hottest year on record, with the average land and ocean surface temperatures reaching 2.32 degrees above the 20th-century average, according to NOAA. The World Meteorological Organization said in an outlook there is an 80% chance that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will be warmer than 2024 as the planet continues to warm.
Key Background
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported an above-average temperature outlook for most of the U.S. in June. The Mid-Atlantic has a 40% to 50% chance to experience above average temperatures, while states in the northeast have a 50% to 60% chance of above normal temperatures, according to NOAA’s outlook. Extreme heat and humidity is a leading weather-related killer in the U.S., killing hundreds every year, according to the NWS, which notes the elderly, small children and people on medication are most exposed to heat related stresses. People living in areas with high heat are encouraged to reduce outdoor activities, drink water and spend time indoors.
Further Reading
‘Virtually Certain’ 2024 Will Be The Hottest Year On Record, EU Climate Body Says (Forbes)
