More than 125 million Americans are currently under heat alerts stretching from Southern California to the Northeast, with dangerous temperatures forecast across the country.
Daily record highs are anticipated on Tuesday in cities such as Rapid City, Fargo, and Grand Forks in the northern Plains, and Plattsburgh and Syracuse in New York. These follow several records that were broken on Monday, including in Bismarck, North Dakota, which reached 105 degrees Fahrenheit, and International Falls, Minnesota, at 97 degrees.
On Wednesday, record daily highs could be seen in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and Wilmington, Delaware. Minneapolis is under an extreme heat warning with heat index values potentially reaching 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Other extreme heat warnings are in effect from Utah to the upper peninsula of Michigan. Salt Lake City is expected to near 100 degrees, and Fargo is under an extreme heat warning for a heat index as high as 105.
In the Northeast, a heat wave began on Monday, with temperatures expected to remain at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit for three to five days in New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. Heat advisories are in place across much of the Northeast, with heat indices around 100 degrees Fahrenheit expected. The upper Northeast could see heat indices from 100 to 104 degrees. On Wednesday, the area between New York City and D.C. is forecast to be the hottest, with heat indices near 100 in New York City and near 105 in D.C. Philadelphia and Trenton, New Jersey, are under an extreme heat warning for heat indices up to 107 on Wednesday.
Out West, Southern California is under heat alerts through Thursday. Temperatures are expected to reach 85 to 90 degrees across coastal valleys and up to 105 degrees for interior valleys. A heat advisory extends to San Jose, California, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s expected. Wednesday and Thursday will be hotter, with downtown Los Angeles potentially reaching the mid-to-upper 90s and interior valleys reaching up to 110 degrees.
While temperatures are expected to be less extreme nationwide next week, significant weather threats are present in other parts of the country. South-Central Texas faces a Level 3 of 4 flood threat for the next three days, with rainfall rates possibly exceeding 2 inches per hour. Daily rainfall totals could range from 3 to over 7 inches, with three-day totals potentially exceeding 15 inches in some areas. The greatest threat is concentrated across the Edwards Plateau, Hill Country, and the Rio Grande Valley.
Additionally, northern New England is under a Level 3 of 5 risk for severe storms. Fueled by extreme heat and humidity, coupled with a cold front from Canada, these storms could produce destructive winds over 70 mph, large hail, and potentially a strong tornado. This risk area includes parts of northeast New York, northern Vermont, northern New Hampshire, and northern Maine, with storms most likely Tuesday afternoon and evening.