NEW YORK – Hundreds of millions of people from California to the Northeast are trying their best to stay cool as a coast-to-coast heat wave continues its deadly assault on the nation.
Record-breaking temperatures have scorched the western and southern half of the U.S. for weeks, putting a strain on power grids and has led to the deaths of dozens of people.
This week, however, hot temperatures have expanded to the east, putting millions more at risk of experiencing heat-related injuries.
More than 151 million people across the country are under some kind of heat alert Thursday, ranging from Heat Advisories to Excessive Heat Warnings. That includes New York City, which hasn’t been under an Excessive Heat Warning since August 2021. Heat index readings could reach 106 in the Big Apple.
Excessive Heat Warnings aren’t only confined to the Northeast, however. They’re also in effect across portions of the Midwest and Plains, including Minneapolis and St. Louis where “feels like” temperatures will climb over 105 in Minneapolis – and up to 114 degree heat index around St. Louis.
HOW TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE AND HEALTHY AS TEMPERATURES RISE
Phoenix and Palm Springs, California, are also under an Excessive Heat Warning as dangerous temperatures refuse to let up in the western U.S.
Phoenix is expected to reach around 115 degrees Thursday, breaking the 110-degree mark again as they’ve done every day so far in July, extending their record to 28 consecutive days.
Also no surprise, several cities in Texas, including El Paso, Amarillo and Dallas are, expected to be at or above 100 degrees.
In the Midwest, Kansas City could come close to reaching 100 degrees while temperatures in the upper 90s will be felt from the Gulf Coast to the mid-Atlantic and up the Interstate 95 corridor through the Northeast and New England.
When you add in the humidity, the feels-like temperatures will reach well above 100 degrees across the eastern half of the country.
MINUTES MATTER: WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU SEE A CHILD LOCKED IN A HOT CAR
It’s going to be a 1-2 punch along the I-95 corridor from the mid-Atlantic through the Northeast and New England on Thursday as dangerous temperatures bake the region, setting the stage for strong to severe thunderstorms across the region during the afternoon.
Temperatures up and down the East Coast will range from the 90s to near or at 100 degrees on Thursday. High humidity levels will make it feel much worse, with feels-like temperatures well above 100 degrees.
Heat alerts stretch through the heart of the Northeast I-95 corridor and into New England, with Excessive Heat Warnings in place from the New York City metro south through New Jersey and into the Philadelphia area.
Excessive Heat Watches are in place from Maryland through Washington and into the Carolinas.
Washington‘s forecast high temperature is expected to reach the upper 90s, but it will feel like it’s near 105 degrees.
Farther north, New York City should remain in the mid-90s during the day, but with a feels-like temperature of around 103 degrees, it will feel downright brutal.
Boston, too, will feel the heat. The city has a forecast high in the low 90s, but it will feel like it’s near 100 degrees during the day.
DOCTORS SEE MORE HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN OUTDOOR WORKERS AS HEAT WAVE DRAGS ON
As temperatures rise, conditions could become dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken to prevent illnesses such as heatstroke and heat exhaustion. Cooling centers have been opened in cities like Philadelphia, New York City and Boston to help those without ways to stay cool.
Outdoor activities have also been canceled in many areas and instead have told people to stay indoors to stay safe.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu has declared a Heat Emergency in the city due to the extreme temperatures.
The extreme heat has claimed several lives this summer, including at least two people inside Death Valley National Park in California. In Phoenix’s Maricopa County, Arizona officials confirmed 18 heat-related deaths so far this summer with seven other deaths likely heat-related.
Last week, a 10-month-old was left alone in a hot car in Florida and died. This year 14 people have died in hot cars, 6 were in Florida.
Several people have also died in Texas since June due to the extreme heat. The Nevada Health District reports 15 dead so far.