US Cities Experience Unprecedented Heat on Peak Wave Day

On Tuesday, tens of millions of residents in major cities throughout the Northeastern United States are grappling with record-breaking temperatures as the heat wave, which has swept the country since late last week, reaches its peak.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), temperatures in Washington, D.C., and Boston could hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), surpassing prior records by as much as 10.8 degrees Fahrenheit (6 degrees Celsius).

In Central Park, New York City, the temperature could climb to 98.6°F (37°C), exceeding the previous record of 95°F (35°C). The NWS also indicates that other regions in the Eastern U.S., such as northern Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, may experience extreme temperatures.

Bob Oravec, the lead forecaster at the NWS in College Park, Maryland, stated, “Today is likely to be the worst day for widespread heat records,” noting that the Northeast is experiencing the most intense heat.

This extreme heat is disrupting public transportation across the region. Amtrak, the major passenger railroad service, announced it would need to reduce train speeds between Washington and New York and between Philadelphia and Harrisburg from noon to 8 PM on Tuesday, which could cause delays.

Some popular landmarks are also being affected; the National Park Service announced that the Washington Monument would be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday due to the high temperatures.

Construction companies are making adjustments to ensure worker safety amid the harsh weather conditions. Jeff Wagner, communications manager at Fluor, shared that the company is providing cooling stations and heavy-duty water bottles for over 2,000 laborers working on a pharmaceuticals project in Indiana.

“We hold safety meetings every morning, and given the extreme heat this week, we’ve emphasized the importance of hydration and pacing themselves,” Wagner explained. He added that workers are starting their shifts an hour earlier to avoid the hottest parts of the day.

In New York City, voters heading to the polls for primary elections are facing the sweltering conditions. Alex Antzoulatis, a 53-year-old accountant who voted in Astoria, New York, expressed regret for not opting for mail-in voting. “I braved the 100°F heat to fulfill my civic duty, but the heat will likely deter many others,” he said.

The warm conditions are also taking a toll on agriculture across the U.S. Plains and into Canada. In Saskatchewan, western Canada, where a significant portion of the nation’s canola, spring wheat, and pulse crops are cultivated, unusually dry conditions in June have negatively affected recently seeded crops. Bill Prybylski, a farmer in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, noted that rain in recent days came too late, but the smoky air from nearby wildfires helped shield crops from direct sunlight.

Looking ahead, temperatures are expected to start declining on Wednesday. “For instance, Thursday’s high in New York is forecasted to be around 84°F, and Friday’s is expected to drop to 75°F,” Oravec noted.