A life-threatening heat wave is heading to the East Coast, with record-shattering temperatures in the forecast.
In New York City, the heat index — what the temperature feels like with humidity — is expected to skyrocket to 103 degrees, 107 degrees and 105 degrees from Sunday to Tuesday. In Washington, D.C, the heat index is forecast to jump to 103 degrees, 107 degrees and 108 degrees.
Doctors recommend taking excessive heat warnings seriously. Over 700 people die from heat-related illnesses every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and extreme heat is considered the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., according to the Fifth National Climate Assessment.
What constitutes a heat wave?
A heat wave is a continuous period of abnormally hot weather, generally lasting over two days, according to the National Weather Service…