Dangerous heat grips U.S. ahead of Fourth of July weekend
Heat alerts stretched from the central U.S. to the East Coast as forecasters warned of heat indices near 115 degrees before the holiday weekend.
The National Weather Service forecasts dangerous, record-breaking heat across most of the central and eastern U.S. through Friday, then over the eastern U.S. through the Independence Day weekend. Heat indices were expected to top 100 degrees, with peak readings of up to 115 degrees possible in some areas.
Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are issued when an extreme heat event is occurring, is imminent or has a very high probability of occurrence. Heat combined with high humidity can quickly cause heat-related illness, and the agency urges people to stay hydrated, seek air-conditioned rooms, stay out of the sun, wear lightweight clothing and check on relatives and neighbors.
2024 was officially the warmest year on record globally and the warmest year on record for the contiguous U.S., according to NOAA. Extreme summer heat is increasing in the United States and remains a cause of preventable death nationwide, with extreme heat events still threatening public health and leading to illness and death, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Heat-related illness is preventable, but people working outdoors and those inside buildings without adequate climate controls are at risk of hazardous heat exposure, according to OSHA. Its revised National Emphasis Program on heat-related hazards took effect on April 10, 2026, and will remain in place for five years.
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