Coast-to-coast heat wave spreads into Northeast leaving over 150 million under alert
The heat wave that has been baking the South and Southwest for weeks is expanding into the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, where temperatures will near 100 in New York and Washington. New York is under its first Excessive Heat Warning in nearly two years.
Severe storms return to Northeast on Thursday
The Northeast is bracing for weather extremes Thursday. On top of the heat and humidity expected from Maine to Virginia early in the day, strong to severe storms are forecast just in time for the evening commute.
NEW YORK – Major cities in the Northeast and New England have joined several other areas of the nation under heat alerts through at least Friday as dangerous temperatures that have been scorching the western and southern U.S. over the last several weeks push into the eastern half of the country.
Among the over 57 million in the Northeast now under heat alerts include New York City, Philadelphia, Boston and Providence, Rhode Island. Those areas are now a part of what the FOX Forecast Center has been warning could very likely be the hottest week of the summer for millions of Americans. New York City is under an Excessive Heat Warning.
About 75% of the nation's population will experience warmer-than-average temperatures through Friday. Only the Pacific Northwest and parts of the northern Rockies have been escaping the intense heat.
(FOX Weather)
Current projections have just over 256 million Americans feeling above-average temperatures on Thursday and Friday, with that number dropping a bit on Saturday.
How hot will it get? Generally speaking, high temperatures combined with high humidity will make widespread forecast high temperatures in the 90s feel much hotter, with heat index readings crossing over 100 degrees in many locations.
HEAT KILLS MORE AMERICANS THAN FLOODING, TORNADOES, HURRICANES OR LIGHTNING
New York City under first Excessive Heat Warning since 2021
NEW YORK, US - JULY 24: People are struggling with hot weather in New York on July 24, 2023.
(Fatih Aktas/Anadolu Agency / Getty Images)
Overall, over 150 million Americans from the West Coast through the Midwest and into the Northeast and New England are now under heat alerts that will remain in effect through at least Friday.
Heat advisories stretch across southern New England from Boston through Providence and into New Haven and Hartford, Connecticut.
Excessive Heat Warnings were issued Wednesday afternoon for over 12 million in the New York City area. This is the first time since Aug. 13, 2021, that the Big Apple has been placed under an Excessive Heat Warning.
Farther south along the I-95 corridor, Excessive Heat Watches and Heat Advisories are in effect for Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington after a warm front passes.
"I'm looking at D.C. It's been 2,536 days since we have seen temperatures hit 100. We have to go all the way back to 2016," Morgan continued. "We're going to make a run. Thursday might surprise us. That's when this front's going to come through. But you get that compressional heating right ahead of a surge, and sometimes you just see those temperatures skyrocket."
Aside from the Northeast, major cities across the U.S. are among those under heat alerts, including Phoenix, Dallas, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and Indianapolis.
Current heat alerts in the U.S.
WHAT IS THE ‘FEELS-LIKE’ TEMPERATURE?
Thursday high temperature forecast
Dangerous temperatures will push farther east by Thursday, with major cities along the Interstate 95 corridor getting in on the action.
New York City has a forecast high of 96 degrees on Thursday, but it will feel like 102 degrees. New York City is under an Excessive Heat Watch in anticipation of the potentially life-threatening heat.
Boston and Providence will see heat index values range from 95 to 104 Thursday.
In the mid-Atlantic, Charlotte, North Carolina and Roanoke, Virginia, have forecast high temperatures in the upper 90s with a forecast feels-like temperature above 100 degrees.
Wilting heat will also settle in along the Midwest and mid-Mississippi Valley with heat index readings climbing to 111 in St. Louis, 105 in Kansas City and 108 in Sioux Falls, Iowa, so precautions should be taken to prevent heat-related illnesses.
The forecast high and "feels-like" temperature on Thursday, July 27, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
DOCTORS SEE MORE HEAT-RELATED ILLNESSES IN OUTDOOR WORKERS AS HEAT WAVE DRAGS ON
More than 116 million to see temperatures 10 degrees above average on Friday
The furnace will be cranking again on Friday, with similar triple-digit temperatures expected again from Kansas City to St. Louis. In fact, more than 116 million people will be experiencing temperatures at least 10 degrees above average across the nation.
Millions more will be feeling temperatures in the 90s from the Midwest to the East Coast.
The heat remains dangerous for millions as feels-like temperatures reach well above 100 degrees from New England through New York City and into the mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
The forecast high and "feels-like" temperature on Friday, July 28, 2023.
(FOX Weather)
With temperatures rising, taking the proper precautions to stay safe is essential.
Several have died from heat-related causes already this summer
The extreme heat has claimed several lives this summer, including at least two people inside Death Valley National Park in California. Since Monday, Maricopa County, Arizona officials confirmed 25 heat related deaths 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.