Overview

• Nearly 160 million people across the eastern U.S. remain under extreme heat alerts as a high-pressure heat dome traps scorching air through Thursday.
• Cities including New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., have tied or broken daily temperature records for mid-June, with readings reaching triple digits.
• Authorities have declared heat emergencies in major cities, opened cooling centers and urged residents to conserve power as grids approach peak capacity.
• The heat has led to heat-related illnesses, including one confirmed death in St. Ann, Missouri, and disrupted travel with Amtrak imposing speed restrictions and reports of local blackouts.
• Climate scientists warn that human-driven warming is increasing the frequency and intensity of prolonged heat domes across the region.