A “heat dome” is expected to hover over much of the country later this week, with temperatures in some places forecast to reach 115 degrees, NBC News reported.
The sizzling heat will first hit parts of the central U.S. during the latter half of the week and will then spread toward the Northeast and mid-Atlantic later this week into the weekend, according to weather.com. Heat alerts have been extended to parts of 21 states, including Louisiana, Minnesota, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.
Starting Friday, major cities along the eastern seaboard, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City could experience highs in the upper 90s to close to 100 degrees. The nation’s capital hasn’t had 100-degree weather since July 2012, weather.com said.
About 200 million people will experience 90-degree temperatures or higher, while 130 million will take in heat indices of 100 degrees or higher, according to meteorologists.
