A Record-Breaking Heatwave Grips the Eastern United States

A record-breaking heatwave is gripping the eastern half of the United States, placing over 185 million Americans under heat alerts. Extremely high temperatures and humidity levels are putting pressure on communities, infrastructure, and public health systems.

The Southeast is facing the most severe conditions, with heat index values projected between 105°F and 113°F from the Carolinas through Florida. In Mississippi and Louisiana, the heat index

could reach as high as 120°F, posing immediate health risks.

Meanwhile, the Midwest is also enduring dangerous conditions. Cities such as Lincoln, Minneapolis, Des Moines, St. Louis, and Memphis experienced “feels like” temperatures between 97°F and 111°F. Warnings continue in urban areas including New Orleans, Jacksonville, and Raleigh, where many vulnerable populations are at heightened risk.

Intensifying Heat Records and Ongoing Warnings

Level 4 heat risk warnings — the highest possible — are in effect across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, while Level 3 alerts cover a broader region stretching through the eastern plains and mid-Atlantic.

On Sunday, Tampa, Florida, hit 100°F for the first time on record — a historic milestone. Several other cities also broke daily temperature records, and more records are expected as the heatwave continues.

The National Weather Service warns that these extreme temperatures will persist through midweek, with air temperatures in the upper 90s to low 100s, and heat indices between 105°F and 115°F across much of the South and Midwest. Nighttime won’t offer much relief either — overnight lows will remain in the upper 70s or higher, making it especially difficult for those without access to air conditioning.

Cuts to Key Agencies Are Endangering Lives

While the heat itself is dangerous, what’s more alarming is how ill-equipped the U.S. is to respond. Years of budget cuts under the Trump administration severely weakened the federal government’s ability to forecast, warn, and respond to extreme weather. Agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS) are understaffed and under-resourced. Some offices, including the one in H

ouston, have been forced to limit their operations, leaving entire regions without adequate real-time meteorological support.

Heat-Related Deaths and the Role of Climate Change

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that more than 1,300 Americans die each year from heat-related causes — a public health crisis made more urgent by shifting climate patterns.

These events place added strain on the nation’s most vulnerable populations — including migrants, incarcerated individuals, people experiencing homelessness, and children in under-cooled schools. Without reliable access to shade, hydration, medical care, or cooling centers, these groups bear the brunt of the crisis.