A long-lasting heat wave that has led to record-breaking temperatures across the eastern U.S. is expected to persist through at least Thursday, meteorologists said.
“Extremely dangerous heat persists across the Midwest and East Coast,” the National Weather Service said in its early-morning update, adding that daily record high temperatures are expected from the Ohio Valley through much of the East Coast.
The oppressive heat, spurred by a powerful heat dome over the Eastern U.S., has driven temperatures into the triple digits, shattering records and creating hazardous conditions.
A heat dome is a phenomenon in which a large high-pressure system forms in the upper atmosphere, trapping hot air beneath it and leading to prolonged periods of extreme heat and humidity at the surface.
On Tuesday, New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport reached 100 degrees shortly after noon — the first triple-digit temperature recorded in the city since 2013. Philadelphia, Boston and Baltimore also reached the 100-degree mark.
High humidity intensified the heat, pushing “feels-like” temperatures to 106 degrees in Boston and Philadelphia, and 110 degrees in Baltimore, according to the Weather Channel.
In parts of Manhattan, temperatures felt like a jaw-dropping 126 degrees on Tuesday, according to the Guardian, which cited an unofficial weather station in SoHo.
The heat also triggered power outages across the city, with Con Edison urging customers to conserve energy and announcing it would reduce voltage by 8% in parts of Brooklyn to support equipment repairs. In Riverdale, N.J., the extreme heat caused sections of the concrete roadway on I-287 South to buckle, forcing the temporary closure of multiple lanes.
High temperatures on Wednesday were forecast to reach the upper 90s, and may not drop below 80 degrees at night in urban areas along the East Coast.
“This level of heat is dangerous to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,” the NWS said, urging residents to act quickly at the first signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Around 108 million people across the U.S. are currently under heat advisories, watches and warnings, according to the NWS — a slight drop from Tuesday, when more than 120 million were affected.
With News Wire Services
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