Punishing heat wave peaks as East Coast readies for sweltering July 4 weekend

Key Points:

• A severe heat wave is impacting the East Coast ahead of the Fourth of July, with temperatures expected to reach upper 90s to low 100s and "feels like" temperatures exceeding 110 degrees from Washington, DC, to Boston.
• Over 160 million people face major to extreme heat risk, prompting cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Raleigh to open cooling centers, shorten parade routes, and activate emergency plans.
• The heat wave, intensified by global warming and caused by persistent heat domes, is leading to expanded public resources and federal measures to prevent power outages, including increased electricity generation in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Record-breaking temperatures are anticipated, with New York City potentially experiencing consecutive triple-digit days for the first time since 2011, and Washington, DC, forecasted to have its hottest Fourth of July on record.
• Nighttime temperatures will remain high, limiting relief and increasing health risks related to heat and humidity, with some cooling expected in the Midwest and Northeast later in the holiday weekend, while the South remains hot into next week.