Extreme Heat Warning: Dangerous Temperature Surge Sweeps the U.S.—Critical Safety Tips Inside

H2: Record-Breaking Heat Dome Triggers Extreme Heat Warnings Across 25 States Communities from the Southern Plains to the Great Lakes are entering a fourth straight day of triple-digit temperatures as a sprawling heat dome settles over the eastern half of the United States. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Excessive Heat Warnings or Heat Advisories for 25 states, including Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. H3: How Hot Will It Get? • Daytime highs: 98 °F–108 °F (37–42 °C) in many metro areas, with localized readings up to 112 °F in the Mississippi Valley. • Heat Index: 110 °F–118 °F due to elevated humidity, making outdoor conditions dangerous after only 15 minutes of exposure. • Overnight lows: Remaining above 80 °F in large cities, limiting the body’s ability to cool down and increasing heat-stress risk. H3: Who Is Most at Risk? • Adults 65 + and young children • Outdoor workers, athletes and farm laborers • Residents without air conditioning or experiencing power outages • People with chronic heart, lung or kidney conditions H2: Health & Safety Checklist 1. Hydration: Drink at least 2–4 cups of water every hour when outdoors; avoid alcohol and sugary drinks. 2. Cooling Centers: Locate public libraries, malls or city-run cooling shelters if home A/C is unavailable. Many counties have interactive maps linked directly from local NWS forecast pages. 3. Schedule Smart: Move strenuous activity to early morning (before 9 a.m.) or late evening (after 7 p.m.). 4. Buddy System: Check on elderly neighbors twice daily; never leave children or pets in vehicles. 5. Recognize Symptoms: • Heat Exhaustion—heavy sweating, dizziness, nausea. • Heat Stroke—body temp ≥ 103 °F, confusion, loss of consciousness. Call 911 immediately. H2: Power Grid and Infrastructure Concerns Regional grid operators in the Midwest and Southeast report record electricity demand. While spare capacity remains, rolling brownouts have been flagged as “possible” if demand surpasses forecasts during evening peaks. Charge essential devices early, keep flashlights handy and follow local outage alerts. H2: Short-Term Forecast & When Relief Arrives Meteorologists expect the heat dome to shift slowly eastward over the weekend. Temperatures should moderate below 95 °F across the Plains by Monday, but coastal Mid-Atlantic states may not feel relief until Tuesday evening as a weak cold front moves through. Until then, heat alerts will likely be extended or re-issued, so monitor the NWS HeatRisk map twice daily. H2: Key Resources • National Weather Service Heat Safety portal: weather.gov/safety/heat • CDC Heat & Health Tracker for localized risk metrics • 2-1-1 Hotline in most states for nearest cooling center information H2: Bottom Line With multiple days of dangerous heat still ahead, heed official warnings, limit unnecessary afternoon travel and look out for vulnerable community members. Simple precautions taken now can prevent life-threatening heat illness during this historic July heat wave.