Abnormal Heat in the Eastern and Central U.S. Has Killed at Least 25 People

At least 25 people have died as a result of extreme heat that has gripped the eastern and central United States, NBC News reports. Under a heat dome that settled over the country in the middle of the week, temperatures in several cities, including Washington, Norfolk, and Raleigh, exceeded 38°C. On Saturday, heat warnings were in effect for 156 million people—nearly half the country’s population.

The highest number of deaths was recorded in New Jersey: according to the state health department, the heat was suspected of causing the deaths of 22 people in 10 counties. The victims ranged in age from 35 to over 80, with the first deaths recorded on Thursday. Department head Raynard Washington said many were found in homes without air conditioning, while some were found outdoors and in parked cars. Three more deaths were confirmed in Illinois, Mississippi, and Massachusetts—including a 74-year-old Mississippi resident whose body was found behind a gas station the day after he disappeared.

The heat coincided with Independence Day celebrations, which this year marked their 250th anniversary. On the National Mall in Washington, where events were held with Donald Trump in attendance, medics treated visitors—the temperature of chairs in the seating area reached 71°F (about 22°C). The start of the ceremony was delayed by about four hours because of a thunderstorm.

Extreme weather also left more than 1.3 million customers without power across a belt of states from Oklahoma to Connecticut. Michigan had the most outages, with more than 305,000, while more than 124,000 households in New Jersey were left without electricity.

The National Weather Service expects cold air from the north to push the heat dome south and west in the coming days, bringing relief to the country’s Northeast. At the same time, forecasters warn that high overnight temperatures and humidity will continue to worsen the effects of the heat.