A dangerous heat dome is scorching the eastern United States, bringing extreme temperatures just as millions celebrate the July 4 holiday and attend FIFA World Cup matches. More than 180 million people from Kansas to Maine are under heat warnings or advisories.
New York City reached 100°F (38°C), marking its hottest day since 2012, while cities including Boston, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C. also recorded or neared record-breaking temperatures.
The intense heat has pushed electricity demand close to record levels as air conditioners run nonstop. The PJM Interconnection, which operates the largest power grid in the U.S., remains under a capacity emergency, while tens of thousands of customers have experienced power outages.
New York utility Con Edison has urged about 133,000 customers in northern Brooklyn to conserve electricity by limiting the use of appliances and reducing air conditioner usage to help stabilize the grid.
Despite the extreme weather, major FIFA World Cup matches—including France vs. Paraguay in Philadelphia and Brazil vs. Norway at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium—are set to go ahead this weekend. Forecasters warn that dangerous heat and humidity will continue across much of the eastern U.S. through the weekend.
