Topline
Nearly a quarter of Americans will be under an extreme heat warning Tuesday as weather officials warned some areas in the Northeast and Midwest could see record-breaking temperatures in the region’s first heat wave of the summer.
A child cools off at Crown Fountain in Millennium Park as temperatures reached a record high of 97 ... [+]
Key Facts
According to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, more than 76.7 million Americans are facing heat-related warnings on Tuesday.
In its Tuesday morning update, the National Weather Service said the heat wave is expected to persist across “the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Northeast through the next few days,” with temperatures hitting the upper-to-mid 90s across most of the region.
The actual impact of the heatwave could be even more severe with the Weather Prediction Center warning that some areas could see a heat index—a metric showing how hot the weather really feels—of between 100 degrees and 105 degrees.
NWS forecasts show the heat index in Chicago could be as high as 98 degrees on Tuesday before touching 100 on Wednesday, while Detroit could see the real-feel temperature number hit 101 degrees on Tuesday.
The heat index could touch a sweltering 104 degrees in Cincinnati on Tuesday while other major cities in Ohio like Columbus, Wilmington and Dayton will hover between 99 and 101 degrees.
Overnight and early morning temperatures across the heatwave-affected region are expected to be in the mid-70s and the Weather Prediction Center warns this “will prevent natural cooling and allow the heat danger to build over time indoors without air conditioning.”
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Crucial Quote
“The early arrival of this magnitude of heat, the duration, abundant sunshine, and lack of relief overnight will increase the danger of this heatwave beyond what the exact temperature values would suggest. This is especially true for those without adequate air conditioning, which becomes more of a concern for locations further north that are not as accustomed to periods of persistent, intense heat,” the NWS said.
What To Watch For
While the Midwest region is expected to take the brunt of the heatwave on Tuesday, cities in the Northeast will also face extreme temperatures that will rise over the next few days. On Tuesday, the heat index in New York could touch 93 degrees before rising to a sweltering 99 degrees later this week. The maximum real-feel temperature in Philadelphia could rise to 95 degrees on Tuesday before hitting 105 on Friday. In Boston, the maximum heat index could touch 95 degrees at noon on Tuesday before rising to 99 two days later.
Suprising Fact
With a maximum recorded temperature of 97 degrees on Monday, Chicago broke the daily temperature record for June 17 set in 1957.
Big Number
150 million. That is the total number of people in the U.S. who experienced temperatures of about 90 degrees on Monday, according to NBC News.
Further Reading
Heat Wave Threatens More Than 100 Million With Dangerously High Temperatures This Week—Here’s Where (Forbes)
