Hundreds Of Temperature Records Could Be Broken During This Week's Dangerous Heat Wave

As many as 250 daily temperature records could be tied or broken this week as dozens of states in the East Coast, Midwest and South navigate a staggering heat wave.

From Philadelphia to Indianapolis, cities are experiencing dangerous levels of heat that could go into the triple digits as a “heat dome” — a high-pressure system that traps heat — engulfs these regions. The high temperatures are set to last through Wednesday in some places and could pose serious health risks to people in the affected areas.

Heat domes are growing more frequent and intense as a byproduct of climate change. And the heat waves that result can be especially dangerous for elderly people, pregnant people and young children who are more likely to be susceptible to health conditions like heat stroke, heat exhaustion and respiratory problems. People who are unhoused and people who lack access to cooling systems are also more vulnerable, given the lack of respite they have from soaring temperatures.

Experts have urged people to exercise caution in places that are subject to the heat wave this week. They advise people to use air conditioning if possible and to seek out public spaces with these systems if they don’t have access to them. Local leaders in multiple cities, including New York, Cleveland and Nashville, Tennessee, have set up cooling centers in community spaces like libraries and senior centers in an attempt to address these gaps. Additionally, experts encourage people to wear lightweight clothing that’s also light in color, because it reflects the sun, and to drink plenty of water.

Key symptoms to watch for related to heat include cramps, dizziness, nausea and excessive sweating, they say.

“Caution should be taken if spending any appreciable amount of time outside, such as by staying hydrated with non-alcoholic beverages, taking frequent breaks and seeking shade,” AccuWeather meteorologist Jacob Hinson said.

One characteristic of the current heat wave is that nighttime temperatures are expected to stay high, which can make it even more deadly because of the limited reprieve that people have.

“This level of heat risk is known for being rare and/or long duration with little to no overnight relief,” reads a Monday advisory from the National Weather Service.