A brutal heat wave is bearing down on the U.S. East Coast and Midwest, bringing dangerously high temperatures to much of the country. According to the National Weather Service, more than 175 million Americans will face either major or extreme heat risk by Friday, with hundreds of cities potentially hitting record highs.
People in the Great Lakes states and the Midwest are sweltering under intense heat and humidity. Forecasters warn that heat index readings could reach between 100 and 115 degrees from the Midwest to the East Coast. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned that temperatures are expected to climb into the high 90s and triple digits, with a heat index that could peak at around 112 F (44 C).
The situation is exacerbated by heat domes that trap overnight temperatures, posing a significant threat to millions of people without air conditioning. This extreme weather is set to last through the July 4 holiday weekend.