Heat Wave to Hit Much of the US With the Hottest Temperatures in Years

Much of the East Coast is under heat warnings or advisories. (NWS)

A heatwave is slated to impact much of the United States in the coming days, affecting an estimated 100 million people in parts of the eastern and central portions of the country.

“Over the next few days, there will be little relief at night as low temperatures in many places, particularly cities along the I-95 corridor, will struggle to see lows dip below 80 degrees at the height of the heatwave, which will bring the hottest weather in years,” AccuWeather said on July 19.

The heat will be combined with severe humidity that will last through Saturday in the Midwest and through Sunday in the Northeast, the private weather forecaster said.

The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) noted on Twitter that there were a bevy heat-related warnings and advisories sent out by local offices across the eastern two-thirds of the country.

The conditions were described as “hazy, hot, and humid.”

In explaining the weather pattern, the NWS said that a “large ridge of high pressure extending from the Central to Eastern U.S. will deliver a dangerous summer heatwave through the weekend.”

“A number of record highs and overnight warm minimum temperatures are likely. Heat indices will surge past 100 degrees and approach the 110s” in Fahrenheit, the agency continued.

Temperatures of around 100 degrees are possible in Washington, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, New York City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Detroit, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati.

“For a time, it may feel just as hot in Washington, D.C., as Death Valley, California. While the actual temperature may be higher in Death Valley, when compared to the nation’s capital, humidity levels near the Chesapeake Bay will be substantially higher than that of the deserts,” AccuWeather explained.

In New York, Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered tall office buildings to turn up their thermostats to 78 degrees amid the heatwave so as to avoid straining the power grid.

“We are about to enter a heat emergency, and must do all we can to keep New Yorkers safe,” said Mayor de Blasio, reported the New York Post. “The City government is limiting its energy use to reduce strain on the electrical grid, and now private office buildings will also have to do their part.”

To complicate things, the Midwest is bracing for potential tornadoes amid the scorching temperatures. Two tornadoes were already reported Thursday in South Dakota, ABC News reported.