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UNITED STATES – A severe and expanding heat wave is affecting large parts of the country, with the National Weather Service placing about 47 million people in the Midwest and Ohio Valley under extreme heat warnings and another 56 million under extreme heat watches. Forecasters report “dangerously hot conditions,” with heat index values expected to reach 105 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in some locations as the oppressive heat spreads east later this week. The most hazardous conditions are anticipated on Thursday and Friday across the Ohio Valley, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast, where some areas are likely to see record or near-record high temperatures and little relief overnight. PHILADELPHIA – In the eastern United States, major cities are bracing for several days of extreme heat that coincide with the World Cup knockout stage and the July Fourth holiday weekend, when more people are likely to be outdoors. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warning for Philadelphia and surrounding areas from the afternoon of July 1 through the evening of July 4, with daytime heat index values potentially reaching 110 degrees Fahrenheit. New York City could see temperatures as high as 109 degrees, while Boston and much of southern New England are under a heat advisory with heat index readings forecast up to 111 degrees. Officials are canceling outdoor events, opening cooling centers, and urging residents to stay hydrated and avoid strenuous activity, while hospitals and emergency workers report that heat-related illnesses can develop within minutes, especially during the first major heat wave of the year.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.