A vast lid of hot air is settling over the central US and, by Fourth of July weekend, is expected to sprawl eastward and put roughly 200 million people under sweltering conditions. Forecasters said a strengthening "heat dome" will drive temperatures into the 90s and near 100 degrees from the Mississippi and Ohio valleys to parts of the East, with humidity pushing how it feels into triple digits and, in some spots, above 110. Chicago could log four or five straight days at 90 or higher; St. Louis may see at least eight, AccuWeather reports. Dew points in the 70s—unusual for the Midwest and Northeast—will make it harder for bodies to cool down and raise the risk of heat-related illness.
Nights may offer little relief, especially in cities where the urban heat island keeps temperatures from dipping below 80. "Overnight lows will also be quite warm, with some record high minimums possible, bringing little to no relief from the heat in the nighttime hours," NOAA forecasters warned, per Axios. Philadelphia; Washington, DC; New York City; and Newark could near or exceed 100 degrees on multiple days as the pattern peaks around the holiday. And light winds, wildfire smoke drifting east, and trapped pollution may degrade air quality. AccuWeather meteorologists advise limiting time outdoors during the hottest hours, seeking air-conditioned spaces or cooling centers, and checking on children, older adults, people with respiratory issues—and pets with scorched paws and too little water.
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