Hundreds Of Temperature Records Could Be Broken During This Week's Dangerous Heat Wave

Multiple states have issued extreme heat advisories amid scorching — and hazardous — temperatures.

As many as 250 daily temperature records could be tied or broken this week as dozens of states in the East Coast, Midwest and South navigate a staggering heat wave.

From Philadelphia to Indianapolis, cities are experiencing dangerous levels of heat that could go into the triple digits as a “heat dome” — a high-pressure system that traps heat — engulfs these regions. The high temperatures are set to last through Wednesday in some places and could pose serious health risks to people in the affected areas.

In Boston, New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina, temperatures could hit 100 degrees, either tying past records or shattering them. And according to AccuWeather, approximately 170 million people are set to be impacted, with 28 states issuing some type of heat alert.

Heat domes are growing more frequent and intense as a byproduct of climate change. And the heat waves that result can be especially dangerous for elderly people, pregnant people and young children who are more likely to be susceptible to health conditions like heat stroke, heat exhaustion and respiratory problems. People who are unhoused and people who lack access to cooling systems are also more vulnerable, given the lack of respite they have from soaring temperatures.

Extreme heat has increasingly proven fatal in the last few decades as sweltering temperatures have become more common. In 2024, a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association identified a 117% increase in heat-related deaths from 1999 to 2023, including a steady uptick since 2016.