A heat wave affecting 40 million people across the East Coast, Southeast, and Southwest continues, with officials attributing at least 25 deaths to the extreme temperatures. Over the Fourth of July, at least 18 record highs were noted in cities like Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Raleigh, Norfolk, and Atlantic City.

On Sunday, heat alerts persisted as heat index values ranged from 100 to 105 in places such as Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, Raleigh, Charleston, and Jacksonville. The heat index represents the perceived temperature, considering humidity.

This week, relief is in sight with temperatures predicted to drop into the 70s to low 90s across the East Coast.

In the Southwest, parts of Arizona and California, including Phoenix and Tucson, face extreme heat watches Tuesday through Thursday. Daytime highs may reach up to 114 degrees, which remains a concern through midweek.

New Jersey has reported 22 of the suspected heat-related deaths. Additional deaths include two in Hinds County, Mississippi, and one in Cook County, Illinois. In New York City, emergency rooms have attended to over 378 heat-related illnesses.

Summer Storms

Saturday’s storms brought over 540 damaging wind gust reports in central and eastern U.S. Gusts peaked at 92 mph in Norman, Oklahoma, and 87 mph in Suffolk County, New York.

Sunday’s forecast predicted scattered showers and storms across the Plains, Southeast, and mid-Atlantic, affecting 25 million people. Affected areas include Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore, and Arlington, where gusts over 70 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible.

Despite a low tornado risk, scattered storms may feature frequent lightning and affect major airports in Dallas, Nashville, Chicago, Cincinnati, Charlotte, Atlanta, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington.

Through Monday, flood alerts span Delaware to Connecticut, although severe weather risk is lower. Slow-moving storms with heavy rainfall increase the risk of flash flooding in the mid-Atlantic.

These storms could produce 2 inches of rain per hour, raising urban flooding risks in Philadelphia, New York, and Hartford. Total rainfall could reach 2 to 8 inches by Monday.