Severe heatwave scorches Eastern US

Millions of people across the US East Coast are enduring dangerous heat and humidity, with temperatures expected to reach and stay at 100F (38C) for several days. The US National Weather Service said that, due to high humidity levels, the heat index could reach 41°C in Boston, 44°C in Philadelphia and 45°C in Washington. The agency also forecast record-breaking temperatures during Independence Day celebrations, with the potential for consecutive daily records to be broken, in addition to monthly records and possibly the highest temperatures ever recorded  over the 4 July weekend.
A severe heatwave is sweeping across the eastern United States, placing significant pressure on power grids and disrupting preparations for FIFA World Cup matches. With the heat index expected to exceed 46°C, New York City, the most populous city in the United States, is bracing for unprecedented temperatures. New York City authorities have introduced a series of measures to address the extreme heat, including converting hundreds of public buildings into cooling centres, deploying volunteers to check on vulnerable groups, and extending the opening hours of public swimming pools across the city.
"My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool," New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned at a press conference, "and if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside and you will be staying cool, and I think it's a good example to set for the city at large."
The heatwave follows an unprecedented spell of early summer heat across Europe, with record highs across the continent. The stifling heat that has been blasting the Midwest has now spread into the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states. Extreme heat warnings continued on Thursday from the Midwest to the Northeast. "This level of rare and long-duration heat, with little or no overnight relief, affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the NWS said in a warning.