Summer Scorcher: Top Ways to Survive the Season’s First Heat Wave

Residents on the East Coast, significant parts of the Midwest, and the typically sweltering South are currently enduring the season's initial heat wave, characterized by record-breaking triple-digit temperatures across numerous areas. On Wednesday, temperatures soared to unprecedented levels in seven states, with New York, Philadelphia, and Boston reaching or exceeding 100 degrees. In Newark, New Jersey, the temperature hit 103 degrees before the thermometer malfunctioned. Tragically, officials have linked the extreme heat to the death of a 55-year-old woman in Missouri and road buckling in St. Louis. New York's Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency, and cooling centers have opened in places like Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, and Seattle for those without air conditioning. The National Weather Service warns that the heat could intensify through July and August, creating an urgent need for awareness about heat-related illnesses and proper hydration.