The massive heat dome that set up shop over the eastern half of the country is finally starting to weaken, but not before it packed a punch and killed nearly two dozen people that suffered suspected heat-related deaths.
The massive heat dome that set up shop over the eastern half of the country is finally starting to weaken, but not before it packed a punch and killed nearly two dozen people that suffered suspected heat-related deaths.
Extreme heat gripped hundreds of millions of Americans starting Tuesday and lasting through the July 4th holiday weekend.
Over 20 states experienced temperatures topping 100 degrees, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
(FOX Weather)
By Sunday, the worst of the heat started moving out of the Northeast and Midwest, shifting further south into the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.
New Jersey officials have reported 22 suspected heat-related deaths across 10 counties, with most being in the central and northern parts of the state. The ages mostly range from the mid-30s into the 80s.
EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: HOW TO PREPARE AND STAY COOL DURING A HEAT WAVE
“This is not a typical summer heat wave. This type of heat can quickly become life-threatening to humans and to animals of all ages,” the New Jersey Department of Public Health said in a statement.
(FOX Weather)
As the system shifts, it will tap into moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, turning the heat oppressive. While actual thermometer readings will hover in the 90s and low 100s, the extreme humidity will make it feel more like 105 to 115 degrees.
While the worst of the heat wave will be over, heat index values will still be near 100 degrees for millions as the historic highs slowly begin to wane.
WHAT IS THE HEAT INDEX AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO YOUR HEALTH?
On Sunday alone, more than 131 million Americans will surpass 90 degrees and over 10 million Americans will surpass 100 degrees, respectively.
There are currently more than 140 million Americans under heat alerts, and over 120 new records have been set since Tuesday, according to the FOX Forecast Center.
(FOX Weather)
On Thursday, Newark International Airport (EWR) in New Jersey hit 105 degrees for the first time since 2001. LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in New York City also hit 102 degrees, which broke their daily record high of 101 set in 1966.
EXTREME HEAT SAFETY: RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF HEAT ILLNESS AND HOW TO TREAT IT
With a high of 103 degrees on Thursday, Philadelphia reached their fourth-warmest day on record. This also tied the daily record set in 1901 and marks the city’s hottest day in 15 years, the FOX Forecast Center said.
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JUNE 23: Kids play in an open fire hydrant as temperatures climbed into the mid-90s on June 23, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Today marked the third straight day the city was under an extreme heat warning. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 24: Children cool off by playing in a fountain in Domino Park, Brooklyn with the Manhattan skyline in the background as the sun sets during a heat wave on July 24, 2022 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. The five boroughs of New York City are under a heat advisory until 8 PM on July 24th according to the US National Weather Service. Much of the East Coast is experiencing higher than usual temperatures as a heat wave moves through the area forcing residents into parks, pools and beaches to escape the heat. (Photo by Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images)
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People cool off under trees during a heat wave in New York, the United States, on July 2, 2026.
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LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 7: People watch the sunset during a record heat wave on September 7, 2024 in Laguna Beach, California. The week-long record-breaking heat wave blanketed Southern California with triple-digit highs throughout the region.
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FILE – A person cools off near a fountain during a heatwave in Houston, Texas, U.S., on Wednesday, June 16, 2021.
(Callaghan O’Hare/Bloomberg)
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in Arlington, Virginia, hit 103 degrees on Saturday. Washington, D.C. has only hit 100 degrees once on record.
Stay with FOX Weather for the latest on the extreme heat and what you need to know to stay safe.
