CHICAGO, ILLINOIS — The National Weather Service Maximum HeatRisk map valid Sunday June 28 through Saturday July 4 is painting a alarming picture across the eastern two-thirds of the United States, with dangerous to potentially record-setting heat expanding across an enormous geographic footprint through the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
The most severe Extreme Risk category, shown in purple, covers a massive corridor including Chicago, Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Raleigh, and Atlanta. A broader Major Risk zone in red surrounds the Extreme area, extending from the Plains through the Deep South and up the entire East Coast. Residents are urged to monitor weather.gov and heat.gov throughout the week.
Extreme Heat Risk Covers Chicago Through the Mid Atlantic and Southeast
The purple Extreme Risk zone on the NWS HeatRisk map encompasses one of the largest high-risk footprints seen in recent memory, stretching from the Chicago and Milwaukee area eastward through Detroit, Indianapolis, Louisville, Nashville, and Pittsburgh before covering Washington DC, Richmond, Raleigh, Wilmington, Charleston, and Jacksonville. This zone indicates the highest level of heat-related illness potential across all of these major population centers.
Major Risk Zone Extends From Plains Through the Deep South
Surrounding the Extreme Risk corridor, a broad Major Risk area in red covers Kansas City, Wichita, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Atlanta, Montgomery, and the entire East Coast corridor from Boston through Miami. Nearly every major city in the eastern two-thirds of the country falls within either the Extreme or Major risk categories through July 4.
Moderate Risk Covers the Northern Plains and Upper Midwest Fringe
The outer edges of the heat event carry a Moderate Risk designation across areas including Bismarck, Sioux City, Omaha, and the northern fringes of the Great Lakes region. Even these relatively lower-risk areas will see above-average temperatures through the holiday weekend.
Dangerous and Record Setting Heat Possible Through July 4
NWS forecasters warn that dangerous to record-setting heat will persist across the eastern two-thirds of the nation through the entire week and into the Fourth of July weekend, making this one of the most significant and widespread heat events of the summer season so far. Stay with NapervilleLocal.com for the latest weather updates and local forecast coverage.…