Dangerous heat wave: Several East Coast cities break June heat records
A life-threatening heat wave has enveloped the East Coast, hitting cities with the worst of the high temperatures on Tuesday before relief moves in later in the week.
This is the first major heat wave of the season, with extreme heat warnings and heat advisories in effect for over 150 million Americans from Texas to Maine, including the entire Interstate 95 corridor.
Multiple cities in the Northeast, baking in the current heat wave, experienced their hottest June temperatures on record Tuesday afternoon, including Boston, Providence, Rhode Island; and Newark, New Jersey.
In Boston, the high temperature Tuesday was 102 degrees -- beating a previous all-time June high of 100 set in 2021, 1952 and 1925. The last time the temperature hit at least 100 in Boston was July 2022.
The high temperature in Providence on Tuesday was 100 -- besting a previous all-time June high of 98 degrees last hit in 1945.
Newark tied its hottest June temperature record, reaching 103 degrees.
In New York City, where the official temperature reading is taken in Central Park, the mercury hit 99 degrees, which was not a June record but was the hottest temperature recorded in the city since July 2012.
Philadelphia also reached 100 degrees on Tuesday for the first time since 2012.
Extreme heat warnings remained in effect across the Northeast, including Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D.C., as temperatures climb to the triple digits.
On Monday, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Raleigh, North Carolina, all broke daily heat records with temperatures of 99 degrees, 104 degrees and 100 degrees, respectively.
Amtrak said some trains in the Northeast may be delayed due to heat-related speed restrictions. Amtrak issues these restrictions when temperatures are higher than 95 degrees and the tracks reach 128 degrees.
This kind of rare, long-duration heat with little overnight recovery can be life-threatening, especially for people without adequate cooling or hydration available.
Con Edison is urging everyone in New York City to conserve energy.
"Customers' need to run their air conditioners to stay comfortable place stress on electric delivery equipment," Con Edison explained. "The company asks customers to refrain from using intensive appliances such as washers, dryers, and microwaves during peak hours."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul released a statement on Tuesday asking downstate New Yorkers to conserve energy until 10 p.m., with the power grid reaching peak capacity.
"Earlier this evening the New York Independent System Operator warned that we are approaching peak capacity in the downstate region and it is critical to conserve electricity," Hochul said. "That means setting window air conditioning units to 76 degrees and avoiding unnecessary appliance use."
Temperatures will begin to dip on Wednesday, but D.C. and Philadelphia could still see record highs.
Relief from the oppressive heat will then arrive on Thursday. Temperatures will drop to 69 degrees in Boston, 78 in New York City, 91 in Philadelphia and 93 in D.C.
Click here for what you need to know to stay safe in the heat.
ABC News' Dan Peck contributed to this report.
