It’s a record-breaking heat wave.
A dangerous heat wave continues to sweep across the Midwest and mid-Atlantic, prompting heat alerts for tens of millions on Monday as extreme temperatures persist following a scorching weekend.
Unseasonably high June temperatures shattered about 20 records on Sunday and are expected to break even more on Monday. According to The Weather Channel, Mitchell, South Dakota reached a scorching 104°F on Saturday, surpassing its previous record of 101°F. Record highs were also reported across parts of Wyoming and Minnesota.
Approximately 160 million people from the central U.S. to the East Coast were under heat-related advisories as of Monday. Extreme heat warnings were issued for roughly 75 million individuals in major urban areas including Chicago, Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
By midday, heat index readings in parts of North Carolina and Virginia had already exceeded 110°F — the level at which heat and humidity combine to create extremely hazardous conditions. From Chicago to Boston, heat index values are expected to reach between 100°F and 110°F.
“Hot weather, stifling humidity, and light winds will create dangerous heat levels,” the National Weather Service in Boston warned on social media. The agency added that Tuesday may mark the peak of this heat wave, with actual temperatures potentially surpassing 100°F and some areas feeling like 110°F or more. Overnight conditions will offer little relief.
New York City officials echoed the warnings, stressing that this first major heat wave of the season will span several days. “New Yorkers should take precautions as this intense heat lingers,” a city spokesperson posted on X.
While no single weather event can be definitively linked to climate change, scientists widely agree that rising global temperatures are making heat waves more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting. These conditions pose the greatest risk to vulnerable populations, including outdoor workers, children, and the elderly.
A break in the heat is expected midweek, with the Midwest seeing relief by Wednesday and the Northeast by Thursday as the high-pressure heat dome begins to weaken.
Meanwhile, other parts of the country are bracing for severe weather. On Monday, storms are expected from northern Kansas through Michigan, bringing threats of damaging winds, large hail, and possible tornadoes. Flash flooding is also a concern from west Texas to southern Wisconsin.
