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| Credit: Raimond Klavin from Unsplash |
Dangerous Heat Wave Grips Over 80 Million Americans: Midwest and Southeast Face Life-Threatening Temperatures
Saturday, July 26, 2025, Man, this US heat wave in July 2025 just won’t quit. More than 80 million folks from the Midwest to the Southeast are stuck under a relentless heat dome that’s cranking temperatures and humidity to downright dangerous levels. This isn’t your average summer heat; this is serious, life-threatening stuff.
If you want to get a sense of just how intense things are, Good Morning America has been tracking the situation closely, and the alerts keep piling up.
Midwest and Southeast: No Escape from the Oven
Places like St. Louis, Memphis, and Chicago are baking with highs flirting with 100°F, but the real kicker is the heat index, the “feels-like” temperature once humidity kicks in. In spots, it’s pushing past 110°F, with some areas hitting 114°F.
And if you’re in Chicago, you might’ve already noticed that the heat is only part of the story, recent heavy rain and flooding have made things worse. You can read more about those challenges in this Chicago flooding update.
Meanwhile, down south in the Southeast, from Texas and Oklahoma to the Carolinas and Florida, millions are dealing with the same roasting temps and humidity. Cities like Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, and Raleigh are sweating through heat indices of 113°F to 115°F this weekend.
And for those in Texas, it’s been a crazy summer so far, with floods displacing people and missing persons reports, not to mention this heat wave piling on top of it all. You can catch up on the latest Texas flooding and missing persons update here.
Why This Heat Wave Is So Dangerous
The danger isn’t just the crazy temps. It’s the size and stubbornness of this heat dome. It’s parked itself right over the central and eastern U.S., making it tough to catch a break. And because of that high humidity, your body can’t cool off the way it normally would.
It’s a perfect storm for heat-related illness, especially since the nights aren’t giving much relief, temperatures are staying up around 80°F, making it hard to get any real rest.
The National Weather Service isn’t messing around with this warning. For anyone living in the Midwest and Southeast, the risks are high, especially for kids, the elderly, and anyone working outdoors. And sadly, heat-related disasters continue to be the deadliest kind of weather event in the U.S.
What Else Is Going On? It’s a Rough Summer
It’s not just the heat. Around the country, other extreme events are making headlines. There was a tragic incident recently at Camp Mystic, you might have heard about, if not, here’s the full story. Up in Alaska, folks are dealing with earthquake aftershocks and a tsunami warning, adding even more stress to a summer that’s already been tough. Check out the Alaska earthquake update here for the latest.
What to Expect Next and How to Stay Safe
This heat dome isn’t moving fast. Experts say it could linger for another week or so, maybe creeping further north and east. While it might not break all-time high records, there’s a good chance we’ll see record-breaking overnight lows that keep the danger alive 24/7.
Scientists also say this kind of extreme heat event is becoming more common, thanks to climate change. So yeah, this isn’t a one-off; it's the new normal in a warming world.
So what can you do? Here’s the lowdown:
- Stay hydrated. Like, seriously, don’t skimp on the water.
- Avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours.
- Check in on your neighbors, especially the elderly or anyone who might be vulnerable.
- Never leave kids or pets in cars, ever.
- Find air-conditioned spaces if you can, even if it means a quick trip to the mall or library.
This dangerous heat wave in the Midwest and Southeast is testing us all. Between the blistering heat index, high humidity, and other disasters hitting the news, this summer is one to take seriously. Stay alert, keep cool, and don’t underestimate what this heat dome can do.
Stay safe out there, and keep an eye on updates, because this heat isn’t going anywhere just yet.
