Heat wave continues across much of US through at least July Fourth

Nearly 142 million people are under National Weather Service (NWS) heat alerts as an intense, prolonged heat wave is hitting the US and bringing potentially historic temperatures ahead of Independence Day.

Forecasts show a massive heat dome expanding across the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast, pushing daytime temperatures into the 90s and 100s in major cities, including Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, Nashville, Savannah, and Boston.

Heat index values are forecast to reach 108 degrees in New York City, 112 degrees in Philadelphia, and between 105 and 114 degrees across other affected areas.

NWS says Thursday and Friday may set “all-time record highs” in some places.

Meanwhile, the 93,607-acre Cottonwood Fire remains at 0% containment as of Sunday.