Northeast Heat Dome May Break Records This Weekend

A surge of intense summer heat is gripping the Northeast this week, with temperatures climbing toward record territory across major cities like New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. The spike in temperatures is driven by a portion of a larger heat dome system drifting east from the Great Plains.

The hottest conditions are expected Friday, when high temperatures could reach the upper 90s in some locations. Heat index values—or what it feels like—may exceed 105°F in urban areas due to high humidity and low wind. New York City, for instance, is forecast to feel like 106°F, with a possibility of tying or breaking historical daily records set in the late 1990s.

Even though late July is typically the hottest part of the year, this particular burst of heat is pushing the limits. In Philadelphia, temperatures could reach 98°F, with similar conditions possible across New Jersey and parts of Pennsylvania. Boston and areas of New England, which recently hit 102°F in June, could see a repeat performance before the weekend cools things slightly.