Millions of Americans across the eastern half of the US are facing a prolonged stretch of dangerous and potentially record-breaking heat as Americans get set to head outdoors to celebrate the country’s 250th Independence Day.
The oppressive heat and humidity will hover over the Midwest early this week, then move into the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast by Wednesday. The sprawling heat dome will linger over the East, particularly the I-95 corridor, and peak by Friday, just in time for the long Fourth of July weekend.
Many areas will endure consecutive days of temperatures near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, while humidity will push the heat indices, or “feels like” temperatures, as high as 110 degrees or more.
Heat waves worldwide are becoming more harsh and frequent because of human-caused warming from fossil fuel pollution. The record-shattering heat waves in Europe last week and in the western US in March are two recent examples.
Heat is also the deadliest type of weather in the US, with a higher annual average death toll than tornadoes, hurricanes and lightning combined, according to weather service statistics.
