A dog cools down in the Water Steps along the Allegheny Riverfront Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on June 18, 2024. The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for much of the Midwest United States. Jeff Swensen / Getty Images Why you can trust us Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. An extended heat wave has descended upon the United States, causing extreme heat alerts and record temperatures for tens of millions. Cities like Chicago have already broken records as daytime temperatures reached into the 90s from the Midwest to Maine. On Tuesday, Governor of New York Kathy Hochul called on the National Guard to help with emergencies that may arise due to the heat, which is expected to last through at least Friday, reported The Associated Press. “This is a time of significant risk, and we’re doing our best to make sure that all lives are protected,” said Hochul during a briefing, as The Associated Press reported. Monday saw a Chicago temperature record from 1957 smashed when the city reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Hot and humid conditions this week will bring heat indices close to 100 in the country’s third-largest city, according to a post by the National Weather Service Chicago on X. The National Weather Service (NWS) warned of extreme temperatures in northern New England as well. “In stark contrast to the cool, windy, rainy and even snowy weather in the West, a heat wave will settle and persist across the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley and the Northeast through the next few days. Forecast highs today and Wednesday will reach into the mid- to upper 90s, even the century mark Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at the hottest locations in interior northern New England. Widespread, numerous record-tying/breaking high temperatures are possible,” the NWS website said. The sweltering conditions are partially the result of a “heat dome,” which traps air that gets hotter with each day of sunshine. Nighttime temperatures often stay too warm to offer much of a reprieve, and the combination is a recipe for increased risk of heat-related illness. “Warm overnight temperatures only dropping into the mid-70s will offer little to no relief, especially to those without adequate or reliable cooling,” said the Weather Prediction Center, as CNN reported. Chicago’s scorching temperatures didn’t keep visitors to Grant Park from wanting hot food on a hot day, reported CBS News. “They be ordering the hottest stuff on the hottest day,” said Emmanuel Ramos, cooking in a food truck next to the park. “They order ramen, corn — they just want everything hot. I don’t know why. Right now, something that would be good is the smoothies. I think those are refreshing.” In 2023, the U.S. had the most heat waves since 1936, The Associated Press reported. A heat wave is a period of unusually hot weather that lasts three days or more. Officials in the Midwest and Northeast are encouraging people to limit their outdoor activities whenever possible and check on others, such as neighbors and family members, who could be especially vulnerable to the high temperatures. Cooling centers have been opened in some places. “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 heat,” the Weather Prediction Center said. Subscribe to get exclusive updates in our daily newsletter! By signing up, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy & to receive electronic communications from EcoWatch Media Group, which may include marketing promotions, advertisements and sponsored content. Cristen is a writer of fiction and nonfiction. She holds a JD and an Ocean & Coastal Law Certificate from University of Oregon School of Law and an MA in Creative Writing from Birkbeck, University of London. She is the author of the short story collection The Smallest of Entryways, as well as the travel biography, Ernest’s Way: An International Journey Through Hemingway’s Life.
