The heat dome blighting huge swaths of the country isn’t going away yet, as the weekend shapes up to be another brutal scorcher. Weather forecasts project temperatures as high as 108 degrees in Las Vegas and 104 in Phoenix, while the east coast is roasting as well. Baltimore and Philadelphia were forecasted to hit 98 degrees, while reports showed that the heat index (which also includes the effect of humidity) climbed to triple digits in those areas.
The National Weather Service’s HeatRisk map showed extreme conditions in New York City and other pockets across the country, including portions of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and West Virginia. The New York City Emergency Management Department and the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene warned residents earlier this week to brace for the first heat wave of the season. “High heat is a silent killer, posing a disproportionate threat to our most vulnerable residents,” officials wrote.
They encouraged people to use air conditioning or, for those without that luxury, to find one of the city’s “Cool Options,” such as malls, libraries, or museums. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a press release on June 17 that she had “activated 50 National guard members to provide assistance as needed.
” Across the country, government agencies have also warned pet owners to keep their animals safe, while zoo officials have scrambled to provide shade, water, and ice to the animals in their care. The Centers for Disease Control .