Record-breaking temperatures have spread across the eastern United States from the Midwest, placing tens of millions of people under heat warnings that are expected to persist through the July 4 holiday weekend. The extreme heat could push "real-feel" temperatures between 100 and 115 degrees Fahrenheit across much of the region.
In Hill City, Kansas, mail carrier Sabrina Hooper described the heat as "completely debilitating" as she navigates her route. The town experienced a similar record-breaking heatwave in 2012. The heat index, which factors in humidity, reached 108 degrees in Brownsville, Texas, where resident Dana Robles expressed concern about rising cooling costs and potential blackouts spoiling groceries.
Residents in Chicago are also preparing for the intense heat. High school science teacher Michelle Klein stocked up on cold drinks and watered her plants. In the city's suburbs, property investor Amy Kaspar responded to a tenant whose air conditioner was struggling to keep up with the heat and humidity.
Cities are implementing measures to help residents cope. Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications advised checking on vulnerable populations and can be contacted for well-being checks. New York City opened hundreds of cooling centers and deployed "cool vans" equipped with water and other supplies. Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced these measures, which include extending public pool hours and expanding outreach efforts.
To conserve energy, New York City leaders requested that Times Square billboards reduce brightness and asked businesses to set thermostats no lower than 78 degrees. The city's energy provider, Con Edison, urged customers to limit energy use during peak hours.
The scorching U.S. temperatures are occurring as scientists have confirmed that human-caused climate change is making heatwaves more likely and intense globally. This phenomenon has been observed in recent record-breaking heatwaves in western Europe.