Triple-Digit Heat Index Triggers Advisories in Nine States

Newsweek

3 days ago

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Sweltering and "dangerous" heat with indices surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of nine states has prompted the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue warnings for millions of Americans.
Newsweek has reached out to NWS for comment via email on Thursday.
Why It Matters
Extreme heat is the deadliest weather hazard in the United States, posing serious health risks nationwide. The National Center for Health Statistics found that between 2004 and 2018, an average of 702 people died in the U.S. due to "excess heat." In addition, NWS warns that "heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events."
Since 1979, more than 14,000 Americans have died from heat-related causes, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Older adults, young children and people with chronic illnesses face the greatest risk from extreme heat. Prolonged heat waves can also strain local power grids as demand for air conditioning spikes.
Extreme weather across the U.S. come amid the Trump administration's proposed cuts of nearly 25 percent to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and staffing reductions at NWS.
New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heatwave on June 25, 2025, in New York City.
New Yorkers cross 41st Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan during a heatwave on June 25, 2025, in New York City.
CraigWhat To Know
The NWS has issued a slew of extreme heat warnings and heat advisories across much of the South and Midwest, as well as New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
The weather agency warns that "dangerously hot conditions" are expected across portions of the states with some heat index values exceeding over 115 degrees Fahrenheit in Mississippi. Heat index values reflect how hot it feels when both temperature and humidity are factored in.
Portions of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, Illinois, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania are all under extreme heat warnings and heat advisories.
Extreme heat has persistently baked the South and Midwest over the past few weeks, as well as flash flooding.
Extreme heat warnings in the region advised people to "not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles," noting that "car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."
Warnings also note that "heat stroke is an emergency" and encourage those who are feeling "overcome by heat" to be moved to a shaded, cool location and call 911.
The NWS encourages people to "drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors."
In an update on Wednesday, the NWS noted that while the heat isn't necessarily surprising, "when triple digits during the day barely drop to 80 overnight, it becomes extremely dangerous. Extreme and record heat is likely throughout the South through next week with extreme impacts possible for those without adequate cooling or hydration."
Heat advisories are in place across dozens of states on Thursday, with NWS in San Antonio, Texas, stating in a Thursday X post: "Today will be the hottest day for many locations in over a month."
What People Are Saying
Ben Noll, a meteorologist at The Washington Post wrote in a Thursday X post: "Extreme humidity and heat aren't going away — yet. Another surge of corn-effect humidity from Saturday to Wednesday could be even more intense than this past week."
In another post he added: "It's not just central states that will feel extreme humidity and heat. The East will too — on Friday in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, before it settles into the Southeast, where there's an extreme risk (Level 4 out of 4) for heat-related impacts into next week."
Representative Gabe Amo, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in an X post: "Trump is gutting @NOAA and @NWS while climate change is causing catastrophic extreme weather. @RepHuffman and I introduced my Stop NOAA Closures Act so the President can't close labs predicting storms & leave Americans vulnerable to disasters."
What Happens Next
The NWS Little Rock, Arkansas forecast warns that "Dangerous heat index values will persist through next week and perhaps longer as high pressure prevails over the mid south."