Friday, a person uses an umbrella near Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The United States is experiencing its first significant heat wave of the year, in large plains and developing in certain parts of the Midwest and the Great Lakes during the weekend, according to the National Weather Service.
Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images
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Alex Wroblewski / AFP via Getty Images
Friday marks the start of the summer and the first significant heat wave of the season, according to the National Weather Service, leaving a large part of the country to compete in temperatures that will have the impression of being three figures.
“Summer has taken his time to arrive in the northeast, but it arrives hot,” wrote the NWS A post on x. “The three -digit heat indices will be common until next week, with oppressive humidity.”
The city of Philadelphia, for example, has issued a red code warning for its residents in order to transfer homelessness to indoor locations, Whyy member station reports. The opinion is put into force when the heat index is provided for more than 95 degrees for three days or more immediately.
Further west, Public radio reports from St. Louis That this city can go on a several -day temperature sequence that felt up to 108 degrees.

In Wisconsin, heat clues could peak between 100 and 105. The meteorologist NWS Ben Miller said Wisconsin on public radio That since “it has been a fairly soft spring”, people are not acclimatized in the same way that they are later in summer.
“It will certainly feel like humidity in the middle of summer,” he said. “I mean, we are talking about dew points at 70 degrees low, and it will be quite uncomfortable.”
THE heat index is a measure of the heat it really feels – depending on temperature and humidity – compared to the actual number on the thermometer.
A hot temperature peak should start in the large plains and slip through the Midwest and the large lakes and on the east coast.
The summer solstice – The start of astronomical summer – is this evening at 10:42 p.m. HAE. Although the hottest parts of summer are in weeks, this year’s solstice will inaugurate dangerously hot conditions in the plains and the Midwest this weekend, which will work on the east coast by … pic.twitter.com/kzuopnmdxc
– National Weather Service (@nws) June 20, 2025
Heat and humidity should not decrease until the end of next week.
“Do not wait for the heat to start protecting you”, the NWS warned. “If the forecasts require extreme heat, start preparing now.”

Everyone in high heat environments may suffer from heat -related complications – including death – but pregnant people, children, people with chronic illness and the elderly run the highest risk of feeling dangerous symptoms following high temperatures.
The NWS encourages people to never leave anyone alone in a closed car, to use air conditioners and in the shade when possible, and to drink a lot of water, even if it is not thirsty, as certain measures to avoid getting sick due to heat.
⚠🌡 Everyone is in danger of the dangers of extreme heat, but these groups are more vulnerable than most. Make sure your loved ones and neighbors are protected from heat and remain #Weathery. pic.twitter.com/iro2d90y9p
– NWS Huntsville (@nwshuntsville) June 19, 2025
Heat waves last longer and culminate at higher temperatures than in the past due to climate change. The average number of heat waves that American experiences today have doubled since the 1980s, and the duration of the dangerous season of heat waves has gone from About 40 days at around 70.
Summer 2024 was the hottest On the file since the countries began to document their temperatures in the 1800s. Last year, not killed in 2023, the previous book holder for dangerously high temperatures.

The warmer weather can have immediate repercussions on human health, but the long -term effects of climate change also threaten the plant and animal life of the planet and natural landscapes.
In order to combat climate development, at a 2015 United Nations conference in Paris, most member countries – including the United States – have agreed to try to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in order to curb the potential calamitous effects of climate change.
But under President Trump, the United States has withdrawn from his commitment, Trump calling for the “unfair” Paris agreement and a “scam”.