National Weather Service: 'Do Not Take Threat Lightly'

Twenty-nine states are under advisories as a blistering heat wave continues, MSNBC reports. East Coast temps are projected to hit highs in the 90s and 100s, says a meteorologist, but the heat index—what it feels like—could be closer to 115 degrees through tomorrow, says the National Weather Service. “In this heat, it's not just about discomfort,” an expert said. It’s about “survival.”

In New York City, where there have only been 57 days of triple-digit heat since 1870, it felt like 112 yesterday. The heat indexes in DC, Tulsa, St. Louis, and Buffalo were all into the triple digits, too. Meteorologists also pointed to poor air quality, particularly in Baltimore and Washington, DC, where air quality is at a code red—meaning it’s unhealthy for everyone. About half the population is likely to be hit by the heat. “Do not take this threat lightly,” particularly if you’re very young or elderly, warns the National Weather Service. (More heat wave stories.)