A mighty heat dome continues to scorch vast swathes of the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and central United States this week, shattering temperature records and fueling a “ring of fire” pattern of severe thunderstorms around its periphery.
Amidst the extreme weather, Tropical Storm Andrea has also formed in the open Atlantic, though it is not expected to impact land.
AccuWeather RealFeel Temperatures are forecast to soar to a brutal 100-115 degrees in parts of the mid-Atlantic this Tuesday afternoon, posing significant health risks. “This is an incredibly hot and steamy heat wave for the month of June,” stated AccuWeather Chief On-Air Meteorologist Bernie Rayno. “The worst of the heat and humidity is expected Tuesday afternoon along the Interstate 95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to Boston.”
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Already, cities have felt the intense heat. Baltimore’s Inner Harbor hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday, breaking its 2024 record of 99 degrees. Newark, New Jersey, reached 101 degrees, surpassing its previous daily record of 99 degrees, while Raleigh, North Carolina, tied its 2024 record of 100 degrees.
The persistent heat is expected to keep temperatures near or above 100 degrees across large parts of the Midwest, New England, and the mid-Atlantic through midweek.
AccuWeather expert meteorologists warn that cities like Newark and Philadelphia may experience an unprecedented three consecutive nights with low temperatures above 80 degrees, potentially straining cooling systems and the power grid. Hot and humid nights significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for those without access to air conditioning.
Record-challenging high temperatures nearing or exceeding 100 degrees are forecast for Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City on Tuesday. For many, this marks the first triple-digit June heat in decades. New York City, for instance, reached above 90 degrees more than two months earlier than last year, with its last 100-degree day occurring on July 12, 2012.
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AccuWeather highlights an elevated risk of heat-related illness for outdoor workers, athletes, young children, older adults, and individuals with medical conditions. The AccuWeather HeatWave Severity Index flags the current heat wave in Chicago and New York as the worst since 2023.
The National Center for Healthy Housing provides information on public cooling centers opened in affected areas. With statistics showing extreme heat as the number one weather-related cause of death in America, prolonged exposure can be lethal.
Relief is on the horizon. The strong June heat dome is expected to weaken during the latter half of the week, bringing a dramatic cooldown to parts of the Northeast.
“There’s even a rare backdoor cool front that will drop southward from New England to part of the mid-Atlantic region during the middle and latter part of this week,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson. “This can dramatically drop temperatures by 20-40 degrees in some cases, which is about as big as it gets this time of the year.”
Following nearly 100-degree temperatures on Tuesday, Boston could see highs in the 60s by Thursday and Friday, with New York City similarly dropping to the 70s.
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While the heat persists, a “ring of fire” pattern is unleashing severe thunderstorms along the western and northern edges of the heat dome, stretching 2,200 miles from northern Mexico to New England and southeastern Canada. On Tuesday, the greatest risk for severe thunderstorms is in the eastern halves of Colorado and Wyoming, extending to northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. These storms are capable of producing flooding downpours, large hail, isolated tornadoes, and damaging wind gusts of 60-70 mph, with an AccuWeather Local StormMax of 80 mph.
The threat of severe weather, including damaging winds, flash flooding, and potential tornadoes, will continue into Wednesday and Thursday across the Midwest, Northeast, and parts of the Southeast as the heat dome gradually weakens. Repeated rounds of storms could lead to localized flash flooding, with AccuWeather® forecasting 4-8 inches of rainfall in parts of Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Missouri. Travel and business disruptions are anticipated due to these intense storm clusters.
Lightning also remains a significant threat. The fourth lightning fatality of the year was reported Friday near New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The National Lightning Safety Council reports three other lightning fatalities this year in Texas, Mississippi, and North Carolina. AccuWeather® expert meteorologists urge vigilance, advising people to seek shelter indoors or in a sturdy vehicle if thunder is heard. AccuWeather® Lightning Alerts, powered by the AccuWeather Lightning Network, are available for free on the AccuWeather® app to notify users of nearby lightning strikes.
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Meanwhile, the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season has seen its first named storm. Tropical Storm Andrea formed Tuesday morning several hundred miles east of Bermuda in the open Atlantic.
AccuWeather hurricane experts do not anticipate any impacts to land, including the United States or Bermuda.
“This cluster of storms met the criteria of developing into a tropical storm with sustained winds of 40 mph. The first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season will be short-lived,” Rayno commented, noting that the first storm typically forms around June 20. Disruptive wind shear is expected to limit Andrea’s lifespan, with dissipation anticipated by Wednesday night.
“Andrea will not have any impact on land or populated areas,” added AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers. While Atlantic water temperatures are generally lower than last year, they remain above the critical 80-degree threshold for tropical development in much of the region, leading experts to expect an active hurricane season.
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