A sweeping heat wave across the eastern and central United States has caused at least 20 deaths over the past week, with New Jersey reporting 19 heat-related fatalities since July 2 and many victims found in non-air-conditioned homes or parked cars. Extreme heat canceled events and overwhelmed emergency services in several states, including Washington, DC, where thousands were affected around the Fourth of July celebration. Forecasters warn the East could see relief as the heat dome weakens, while a new heat wave threat forms in the West and severe thunderstorms loom from the Rockies to the Midwest. The period underscores how vulnerable populations without air conditioning and outdoor exposure drive mortality amid record-setting temperatures. Looking ahead, officials anticipate ongoing heat risks and convective storms through early July.
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New Jersey accounted for 19 heat-related deaths since July 2, the state with the highest count reported so far, with victims found in homes without air conditioning and in outdoor or automotive settings.
Overall toll rose to at least 20 fatalities in the past week as extreme heat affected the eastern and central U.S., with many communities hitting or exceeding daily temperature records.
In Washington, DC, heat indices exceeded 110 degrees during a major July 4 event, resulting in numerous emergency transports and hundreds of patient contacts on the National Mall.
Officials noted additional strain from summer heat while preparing for potential severe thunderstorms and wind, rain, and flash flooding across parts of New England, the mid-Atlantic, and the Midwest through July 7.
Forecasters expected relief for the East as the heat dome shifts, but a new heat dome was anticipated to produce hotter conditions in the West, signaling a shifting but persistent regional heat threat.