Brutal heatwave scorches eastern US ahead of Fourth of July weekend

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Heat domeA “prolonged, dangerous heatwave” was sweeping across parts of the central and eastern United States on Thursday, with forecasters warning that extreme record-breaking temperatures are expected to continue into the holiday weekend for millions of Americans.

The National Weather Service (NWS) warned on Thursday that temperatures between 95F (35C) and 105F (40.5C), combined with high humidity, will push heat index values across parts of the region to between 100F and 115F.

“This will lead to widespread areas of Major to Extreme HeatRisk from the Midwest to the East Coast” the NWS said. “Numerous daily temperature records are expected today, Friday, and Independence day, with some consecutive-day, monthly and all-time records possible.”

The agency said on Thursday afternoon that extreme heat is expected to “continue across most of the central and eastern US through Friday”, then it will focus “across the eastern US through the Independence Day holiday weekend”.

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