Anyone living in the East Coast to major parts of the Midwest — and, of course, in the typically blazing-hot South — this week knows we’re experiencing the first heat wave of the summer, a deadly weather event that’s bringing record-breaking, triple-digit temperatures to much of the country.
On Wednesday, seven states saw temperatures that tied or broke records. New York, Philadelphia and Boston all hit or surpassed 100 degrees. In Newark, New Jersey, the thermometer reached 103 degrees before it stopped working — at a water park.
Officials blamed the heat for the death of a 55-year-old woman in Missouri, and for buckling roads in St. Louis. In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, declared a weather-related state of emergency. Authorities in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Seattle and a dozen other locations opened cooling centers for residents who don’t have air conditioning at home.
It Feels Like the Sun Has Moved Closer to the Earth
In other words, you don’t need to work for the weather service to know that a heat dome has got temperatures entirely out of hand. Unfortunately, the heat is likely to get worse this summer: the National Weather Service predicts higher-than-average temperatures nationwide during July and August.
Please do not invite me to anything if ‘no air conditioning’ is involved.
TikTok influencer dalxusa.
And urban, predominantly Black neighborhoods — which are more likely to have buildings and blacktop that draw heat, and less likely to have tree canopies that help keep things cooler — will suffer most.
The technical definition of a heat dome explains how it causes discomfort.
According to the National Weather Service, a heat dome is a high-pressure system that traps hot air underneath it, leading to prolonged, dangerously high temperatures with little relief day or night. This week, the heat dome is beating down on roughly 90 million people nationwide.
From coast to coast, people agree that whatever a heat dome is, it’s unkind.
“Please do not invite me to anything if ‘no air conditioning’ is involved,” said TikTok influencer dalxusa.
Joking aside, extreme heat can be deadly.
Shauna Thomas was found dead in a sweltering apartment in St. Ann, Missouri, a St. Louis suburb, not long after the power had been shut off. In Maryland, the number of emergency-department visits for heat-related problems surged in June. And the number of heat-related deaths nationwide has risen every year since 1999; in 2023, more than 21,000 people died nationwide from heat-related illnesses or causes in which heat was a factor.
So, since it’s going to be here for a while, what can you do to beat the heat?
Recognize the signs of heat-related illness
Heat-related illnesses occur when a person’s body temperature rises faster than it can cool itself down, says the Public Health Collaborative. These illnesses can range from heat bumps and cramps to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, and rapid pulse. If not handled quickly, heat exhaustion can lead to heat stroke.
Heat stroke is life-threatening, and happens when the body’s temperature regulation system fails. Symptoms include extremely high body temperatures, throbbing headache, dizziness, confusion, and loss of consciousness.
If you must be outdoors, especially for a long time, authorities recommend staying in the shade as much as possible. Take breaks often, and do outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the morning or evening.
Keep Your Cool Indoors
If you’re using household fans to keep cool, make sure the indoor temperature is less than 90 degrees. At higher temperatures, using a fan can actually increase body temperature.
If your home doesn’t have air conditioning, find a location that has one by dialing 2-1-1 or use the National Center for Healthy Housing’s Cooling Centers by State page. You can also contact your local health department or emergency management agency.
Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate
Keeping enough fluids in your body requires more than just drinking something when you’re thirsty. The recommendation to “drink plenty of fluids” means to sip water every 20 minutes — even if you don’t feel thirsty.
Carry a water bottle and refill it throughout the day. Limit sugary beverages and drinks high in sodium, caffeine, and alcohol, since they can be dehydrating. Make sure your urine color is light yellow or clear — a sign, experts say, you are drinking enough water. Tea-colored or darker is an early indicator of dehydration.
Also, be sure to check on your family, friends and neighbors, especially if you know they have chronic medical problems, are elderly, or they live alone. And don’t forget to make sure your pets are also weather-ready.
