Potentially deadly heat wave envelops most of the nation
Potentially deadly heat wave envelops most of the nation
Up to 265 million people are expected to experience 90-degree weather this week.
ByBill Hutchinson and Kenton Gewecke
June 16, 2024, 3:06 PM
More than 55 million people across the nation were under an alert for extreme heat on Sunday and through most of the week ahead as temperatures are forecast to hit triple digits in some parts of the country.
Over the next seven days, 265 million people, or about 82% of the U.S. population, are likely to experience temperatures topping 90 degrees as the official first day of summer arrives on Thursday.
An Excessive Heat Watch was already issued Sunday for parts of New England, including Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The temperature in Concord, New Hampshire, is forecast to reach 101 on Wednesday.
Spectators stand in the heat while waiting to watch players warm up prior to an international soccer friendly between Mexico and Brazil on June 8, 2024, at Texas A&M's Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.Julio Cortez/AP
New York City could feel its first heat wave of the year as temperatures are forecast to reach 90 degrees on Wednesday and 94 on Thursday on Friday.
Pittsburgh is also in for a string of hot weather with temperatures expected to soar to 99 degrees on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
Kids play in a splash pad at Riverview Park on June 05, 2024 in Mesa, Ariz.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
The heat-wave forecast for Pittsburgh could be the city's hottest all-time for the month of June. The previous five-day June record occurred in 1994 with a temperature average of 96.4 degrees.
MORE: Severe weather hits northern Plains as major heat wave set to move across country
The all-time record for a heat wave in Pittsburgh happened in mid-July 1988 when city residents sweltered for five consecutive days with 98.6-degree temperatures.
Heat wave weather map.ABC News
Washington, D.C., is also expected to be inundated with 90-degree weather and could flirt with the century mark by Friday.
High temperatures are also forecast for Ohio and southeast Michigan, where an excessive heat watch is also in effect from Monday through Friday.
Daily temperature records are expected to fall this week in Chicago, Green Bay and Cleveland.
High temperatures weather map.ABC News
Out west, dangerous heat is expected for Texas, Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.
MORE: More flooding in the forecast after more than 2 feet of rain inundates South Florida
An excessive heat warning was issued for Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona, where temperatures threatened to hit the 110-degree mark on Sunday.
Heat risk weather map for Tuesday, June 18.ABC News
Roswell, New Mexico, is expected to reach 105 degrees on Sunday and El Paso and Fort Stockton, Texas, are expected to get just as warm.
Heat risk weather map for Thursday, June 20.ABC News
Authorities warn people enduring such high temperatures to stay hydrated and out of the heat, and to check on elderly neighbors and relatives.
In 2023, there were 2,302 heart-related deaths across the country, a 34% increase from 2022.