The Northeast and Midwest are staring down a heat wave that’s not just uncomfortable. It’s historic. Forecasts show temperatures pushing into the upper 90s across major cities, with New York City expected to hit 98°F. That would be the hottest June reading in Central Park since 1994. The National Weather Service has already issued extreme heat watches and advisories for over 100 million Americans. This isn’t a warm spell. It’s a heat dome.
The numbers are stacking fast. Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia are all projected to flirt with or exceed daily records between Sunday and Tuesday. Denver already cracked 100°F on Friday. That’s rare. It only happens twice a year on average. The heat index, which factors in humidity, is expected to push “feels like” temperatures well into triple digits across the I-95 corridor. That includes Washington, D.C., where the heat index could top 105°F.
This wave is not a one-day event. The Midwest will stay hot through early next week. The Northeast ramps up Sunday and may not see relief until Wednesday. Cities like Boston and Philadelphia could see multiple days in the upper 90s. New York hasn’t touched 100°F since July 2012. That streak is in jeopardy.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic is quiet. Too quiet. Hurricane season 2025 is off to the slowest start in two decades. No named storms. No tropical depressions. Just silence. The National Hurricane Center hasn’t issued a single advisory. That’s unusual. By this point in June, the Atlantic typically sees at least one named system. The last time it was this quiet was 2005. That year ended with 28 named storms. So don’t mistake silence for safety.
The contrast is sharp. On land, the heat is breaking records. Over water, the tropics are asleep. But both can turn fast. The heat dome is already here. The hurricanes may not be far behind.
Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/northeast-midwest-heat-wave-could-105000832.html
https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/heat-wave-northeast-midwest-summer-arrives