Overview

• Nearly 160 million people in 29 states from eastern Texas to Maine are under extreme heat alerts as a high-pressure system traps hot air over the region.
• Major cities such as New York, Philadelphia and Boston have reached or are forecast to hit triple-digit highs, with Central Park recording 100°F on Tuesday—the first June occurrence since 1966.
• High humidity has kept nighttime lows near or above 80°F, reducing overnight cooling and heightening risks of heat-related illness for older adults, children and outdoor workers.
• Power grid strain has led to blackouts for more than 34,000 Bronx households and speed restrictions on Amtrak routes after rail tracks buckled under the heat.
• Local officials have opened cooling centers and issued health advisories as they warn that oppressive conditions will persist through Thursday before temperatures finally ease.