Heat wave hits US: See where it will be the hottest
Millions of Americans are under extreme heat warnings on Friday, June 20, as sweltering temperatures are expected to reach the triple digits in some areas.
The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that heat could reach "dangerous levels" over much of the central and eastern United States, beginning on June 20 and continuing into the weekend.
Temperatures are likely to be hottest between the weekend and early next week, but there will still be a risk for extreme heat in the Mid-Atlantic at the end of next week, the agency said.
According to AccuWeather, up to 170 million people across the country are expected to experience temperatures at or above 90 degrees during the heat wave.
Here is a look at which areas will be hit the hardest.
According to NWS data, the central U.S. is expected to endure the hottest temperatures on Friday, June 20, and Saturday, June 21.
On Friday, major heat-related impacts are expected in most of Nebraska, Kansas and parts of Colorado, South Dakota and Iowa. Pockets of surrounding states, such as Minnesota, Oklahoma and Louisiana, will also get the worst of the extreme heat.
By Saturday, major heat will expand across the Midwest, and extreme heat impacts will begin in parts of Nebraska, where temperatures could reach triple digits. Extreme levels are defined as rare or long-duration heat with little to no overnight relief, according to the NWS.
Extreme heat will continue moving east across the Midwest through the weekend, reaching Illinois, Indiana and Michigan by Sunday, June 22, according to the NWS.
Much of the remaining eastern half of the U.S. will also be under moderate to major heat-related risks, with temperatures likely reaching the high 90s.
By mid-next week, extreme heat will mostly linger across Ohio, Pennsylvania and the East Coast, per the NWS. States as far west as Illinois, Missouri and Arkansas will still have a moderate heat risk by Thursday, June 26.
NWS has specific temperature forecasts for all the U.S. states available on its website.
For those affected by the ongoing heat waves,
Use sunscreen and reapply it regularly
Wear loose-fitting, light colored and lightweight clothes, NWS recommends
Don't leave kids or pets in the car, even for a short time
Check the weather for information about UV index, heat warnings and the feels-like temperature
Bring multiple bottles of water per person if spending extended time out in the sun
Seek shade and air conditioning
Keep in mind that some people are more vulnerable to heat than others, like children, those over 65 or pregnant, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Contributing: Joel Shannon, USA TODAY
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Which parts of US are in a heat wave? See hardest hit areas
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