Dangerous Heat Wave Threatens Over 30 Million Across Southeast
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extensive heat advisories and extreme heat warnings across the Southeast, affecting over 30 million people from central Florida to Virginia through the coming week.
Major metropolitan areas including Raleigh and Charlotte, North Carolina, Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Atlanta face extreme heat risk for several days with minimal overnight relief.
Why It Matters
This heat wave represents dangerous conditions even by Southeast standards where summer heat is routine.
The extended duration and geographic scope create significant public health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations including the elderly, children, and those without adequate air conditioning. The lack of overnight cooling compounds the danger, preventing bodies from recovering from daytime heat stress.
Understanding the difference between heat advisories and warnings is crucial for public safety. Heat advisories signal increased risk of heat-related illness if precautions aren't taken, while extreme heat warnings indicate dangerously high temperatures that create life-threatening conditions requiring immediate protective action.
Widespread heat indices over 100 degrees are expected in north and central Georgia today. Practice good heat safety everyone. #gawx pic.twitter.com/7yrm2AeisP — NWS Atlanta (@NWSAtlanta) July 26, 2025
What To Know
The NWS forecasts temperatures approaching or exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, with heat indexes reaching up to 115 degrees through Sunday evening. Central Florida expects highs in the upper 90s, with heat indexes between 105 to 110, while eastern North Carolina faces the most severe conditions under extreme heat warnings.
The heat wave extends beyond the Southeast, with extreme heat watches issued for eastern Nebraska, western Iowa, and southern Minnesota. St. Louis faces particularly challenging conditions with highs around 99 and heat indexes near 110 forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
Cities across affected regions have opened cooling centers for residents without air conditioning, with officials encouraging people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours. The exact temperature thresholds that trigger heat advisories vary geographically, but all current warnings indicate conditions that push the human body beyond normal heat tolerance limits.
Parts of Iowa experienced additional complications Saturday morning with storms dumping 2-5 inches of rain and triggering flash flood warnings, creating a complex weather emergency across multiple states.
A person walks through a machine that mists to cool off after taking a break from running on a hot day, July 25 in Cincinnati.
A person walks through a machine that mists to cool off after taking a break from running on a hot day, July 25 in Cincinnati.
AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel
What People Are Saying
The NWS wrote in its advisory: "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors."
It added: "Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed."
NWS Atlanta on X, formerly Twitter, gave this warning on Saturday: "Widespread heat indices over 100 degrees are expected in north and central Georgia today. Practice good heat safety everyone."
The National Integrated Heat Health Information System (NIHHIS) says groups most at risk to heat include, but are not limited to: "Children, older adults, people experiencing homelessness, people with pre-existing conditions, people with disabilities, indoor and outdoor workers, emergency responders, incarcerated people, low-income communities, pregnant women, athletes, and more."
The Weather Channel said this week: "A heat advisory means 'be careful and take action;'" a heat warning means 'this is dangerous, take action now.'"
What Happens Next?
The heat wave is expected to peak through midweek, with forecasters monitoring for potential shifts in weather patterns that might provide earlier relief. Power companies are preparing for increased demand on electrical grids, with some utilities implementing conservation measures to prevent outages during peak cooling periods.
Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
4 hours ago
- CBS News
EF0 tornado briefly touches down in Annapolis
A waterspout was spotted over Spa Creek in the Eastport neighborhood of Annapolis on Thursday evening. On Friday, the National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that the waterspout passed briefly as an EF0 tornado over the Severn Sailing Association marina. According to the NWS, a witness watched as the waterspout moved ashore and over the marina, blowing over multiple trailered and small boats in the parking area. Videos from social media captured near the Route 450 bridge showed the tornado spinning from the shoreline to the mouth of the river, moving west to east. It then disappeared before reaching land on the opposite side of the river. No additional damage was reported. A Flash Flood Watch was in effect for most of the Baltimore region, including Howard County, until early Friday morning. Storms brought severe damage to multiple communities. In Mt. Airy, a 13-year-old boy drowned after being swept into an outdoor drainage pipe. Meanwhile, in Harford County, two people were rescued from floodwaters at the Pulaski Highway and Baltimore County line. "Numerous people have been rescued from flood waters as a result. Fortunately, there have been no injuries," the Joppa Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company said. "Do not attempt to drive or cross flooded roads or sidewalks. Turn around, don't drown." Additionally, an ambulance and at least one vehicle crashed in the Joppa area and were leaning on the side of the road on Mountain Road and Greenspring Avenue.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Heavy rain pummels the East Coast and sparks isolated flash flooding
Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast Thursday, delaying flights throughout the region and prompting emergency rescues of motorists trapped in deep water on busy highways from the Philadelphia area to New York City. In New York, flash flooding briefly closed sections of major roadways and flooded train stations across the metropolitan region as the evening rush hour approached. Commuters captured video of water pouring over a train on a platform in Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal and water pooling on the floor of a city bus as it pushed through a flooded Brooklyn street. Riders of one Long Island-bound commuter train were evacuated by firefighters as floodwaters rose. Other commuter rail lines on Long Island and New Jersey were suspended or severely delayed. Amtrak officials announced Thursday evening that trains between Philadelphia and Wilmington, Delaware were stopped because of severe storms sending high water over the tracks. 'Once a route is available, anticipate residual delays,' company officials posted on X. Traffic cameras and social media posts on a highway in the New York City borough of Queens showed motorists at one point standing on the roofs of stranded vehicles and a tractor-trailer nearly fully submerged. Police said they pulled cars carrying two people from the flooded stretch before the waters receded and traffic slowly resumed. New York City Mayor Eric Adams and other local officials pleaded with people to stay off the roads and urged residents in basement apartments to move to higher locations as rain was expected to fall through Friday afternoon. In Pennsylvania, National Weather Service warnings of up to 3 inches (7.6 centimeters) of rain in an hour produced flooding in Reading, a city about 60 miles (96 kilometers) northwest of Philadelphia. Photos and videos online showed parked cars nearly underwater and water pouring down a narrow city street. Other videos from Reading showed emergency vehicles blocking off some streets or underpasses as flood waters had rendered them impassable. In Maryland, emergency responders rescued multiple people from flooded vehicles in communities northeast of Baltimore. Officials there also preemptively closed roads prone to flooding, shuttered schools and libraries early and opened emergency shelters as more thunderstorms were expected across Maryland. Flood watches and warnings were issued across the state. Airports in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia all reported scores of flight delays and cancellations into Thursday evening. Tornado warnings in New Jersey came and went with no reports of twisters, though more than 14,000 electricity customers were without power as of Thursday evening. States of emergency were declared in New Jersey and New York City, though flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings were lifted in New York City by Thursday night. Flood watches and severe thunderstorm watches posted in other locations remained in effect into Friday morning, with 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) of rain possible in some areas of the East Coast. The weather service warned flooding was possible in small creeks and streams and along highways, streets, underpasses and places with poor drainage. Some areas could also see high wind gusts and hail. __
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kansas City air deemed ‘unhealthy' as wildfire smoke casts haze across skies
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City, as well as areas across the metro, are experiencing low air quality due to wildfire smoke. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) said winds are bringing Canadian wildfire smoke into the state, particularly central and eastern Kansas. Lions Lake to be drained in Warrensburg; anglers can remove as many fish as possible The air quality in Kansas City – both in Missouri and Kansas – is listed as 'unhealthy,' as of 9 a.m. Friday. Across the metro, also lists the air quality as 'unhealthy.' The National Weather Service issued an air quality alert Thursday morning. That means people with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children and teens are more vulnerable. These conditions are likely to persist Friday and Saturday, according to KDHE. The Air Quality Index (AQI) will likely range from 'moderate' to 'unhealthy' at times. You can view the current air quality for your area by clicking here. KDHE shared the following tips to protect your health when the air quality is low: Healthy people should limit or avoid strenuous outdoor exercise. More vulnerable people should remain indoors. Help keep indoor air clean by closing doors and windows and running air conditioners with air filters. Stay hydrated by drinking lots of water. Contact your doctor if you have symptoms such as chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath or severe fatigue. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
