Key takeaways:
- The National Weather Service said the first widespread heat wave of the summer is affecting more than half of the United States.
- Heat index values are expected to reach 100 to 110 degrees in many areas and as high as 115 degrees in some places.
- Philadelphia could feel as hot as 112 degrees by Thursday, while New York could near a heat index of 108, NBC News reported.
A dangerous heat wave is spreading across much of the central and eastern United States this week, pushing temperatures into the 90s and low 100s and making it feel even hotter as humidity builds ahead of Independence Day celebrations, forecasters said.
The National Weather Service said several days of high temperatures will settle over the lower Great Lakes, the mid-Atlantic and the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. The heat is expected to affect more than half the country, making it the first widespread heat wave of the summer, according to forecasters cited by CBS News.
Cities in the path of the heat include New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Dallas, Little Rock and Memphis. NBC News reported that Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, Memphis, Nashville, Savannah and Philadelphia are among the cities under heat alerts, with some alerts expected to remain in effect through Thursday.
Temperatures will reach well into the 90s and low 100s Fahrenheit, the weather service said. High humidity will push heat index values to 100 to 110 degrees in many areas, and as high as 115 degrees in some places. Overnight lows in the 70s will offer little relief.
The heat index measures how hot it feels when humidity is factored into the air temperature. It is widely used in forecasts to help show the danger of prolonged exposure or strenuous activity.
The heat will intensify in the East as the week goes on. Philadelphia, Washington and New York could see heat index values rise above 100 by midweek, NBC News reported, with Philadelphia feeling as hot as 112 degrees by Thursday and New York nearing 108.
A number of large cities could record their hottest temperatures of the year so far while hosting World Cup matches, CBS News reported.
The heat is expected to last into next weekend across the Great Plains, the Southeast and the mid-Atlantic, the weather service said. Parts of the Southwest, including Phoenix, Las Vegas, central Texas and much of the region, were already seeing temperatures around 100 degrees.
Forecasters said other weather hazards are unfolding at the same time. The Four Corners region remains under dangerous fire weather conditions, while severe thunderstorms continue across the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. Flooding concerns stretch from the Rockies into the Mid-Atlantic.
The National Weather Service urged people to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated and make sure they have access to air conditioning or other cooling areas during extreme heat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says heat can affect anyone. Signs of overheating include muscle cramping, dizziness, unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, headaches, weakness and nausea.
While much of the country faces extreme heat, much of the West remains unusually cool. High temperatures are running 20 to 35 degrees below average across parts of the Northwest and northern Rockies, according to weather reports cited by CBS News.
The U.S. heat comes as Europe continues to endure a severe heat wave. CBS News, citing AFP, reported that Germany hit a record 106 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday and that Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Denmark and France have also faced high temperatures. In France, dozens of drowning deaths were recorded this month as swimmers sought relief from the heat, CBS News reported. NBC News reported that French officials said the country recorded about 1,000 excess deaths during the recent stretch of record-breaking heat.
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