A dangerous heat wave is anticipated to spread across the central and eastern parts of the United States this week. The Weather Prediction Center has warned that temperatures could reach the triple digits, potentially breaking records. This heat wave is likely to persist into the Fourth of July weekend.

Meteorologist Marc Chenard indicated that temperatures will soar into the 90s and low 100s from the Midwest to the East Coast. Areas such as the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast might experience temperatures above 100 degrees.

Washington, D.C., will almost certainly exceed 100 on at least one or two days, stated Chenard. He also mentioned that Philadelphia and New York City are expected to see temperatures exceed 100 degrees. Records could be broken in these cities on Thursday and Friday, with Philadelphia potentially tying its monthly record high of 104 degrees in June.

The heat wave is predicted to start on Sunday across the Plains, with temperatures climbing into the 90s. By Tuesday, the heat is expected to reach the Great Lakes, including Chicago, and extend towards the Gulf Coast. Come Wednesday, a large part of the East Coast will be experiencing extreme heat.

Humidity will compound the situation, making it feel worse. The National Weather Service has suggested that the heat index values, which combine humidity and temperature, could soar to 110 degrees and occasionally reach up to 115 degrees.

Nights may offer little relief, as temperatures are forecast to remain unusually high even after sunset. Chenard noted that minimum temperatures might hover in the 70s, with some cities possibly staying warmer during midweek, resulting in numerous record-high low temperatures.

Areas like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C., could record lows for one or two nights that don’t drop below 80, Chenard added. Chicago might see low temperatures close to 80 on Tuesday or Wednesday morning.

The heat and humidity are expected to persist through a significant portion of the Fourth of July weekend. The extended heat is driven by a persistent high-pressure area known as a heat dome.

Toward the weekend’s end, the heat dome is expected to move westward towards the Plains, allowing cooler conditions in the East and increasing the likelihood of thunderstorms.

Nazaneen Ghaffar contributed to this report for the Weather team.