At least 19 people died in New Jersey from suspected heat-related causes during a record-breaking heat wave that gripped the East Coast over the July 4 holiday weekend, state officials said.
New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington reported the deaths at a Saturday news conference, noting that most victims were found in homes without air conditioning.
Some were discovered outside or in parked cars. The fatalities began appearing as early as Thursday, concentrated in central and northern counties.
Governor Mikie Sherrill described the heat as indiscriminate, affecting residents of all ages. “The heat’s hitting all of us, not just seniors, not just with underlying health conditions,” she said. Officials linked the deaths to a persistent heat dome over the central and eastern United States.
Record Temperatures Hit Multiple Cities
Temperatures soared into the high 90s and triple digits across the region. At least a dozen cities broke or tied daily high marks on July 4. Atlantic City reached 106 degrees, the highest on the East Coast.
Washington, D.C., and Raleigh, North Carolina, hit 103 degrees. Baltimore, Salisbury, Maryland, and Wilmington, Delaware, recorded 102 degrees.
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Charlotte and Fayetteville in North Carolina, and Norfolk, Virginia, topped 100 degrees, setting new records. Richmond, Virginia, also reached 100, tying its daily mark. Preliminary data showed similar extremes in Greensboro and Roanoke.
Heat advisories remained in effect Sunday from Jacksonville, Florida, to Philadelphia, with heat indexes climbing into triple digits in several locations. Macon, Georgia, and Pine Bluff, Arkansas, also faced advisories.
Storms Disrupt Holiday Celebrations
The extreme heat gave way to severe thunderstorms Friday night and through the weekend. In New Jersey, the storms knocked out power to nearly 300,000 customers. Wind gusts up to 80 mph toppled trees and power lines.
In Washington, D.C., lightning and severe weather forced authorities to evacuate the National Mall during the “Salute to America 250” Fourth of July events marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
Attendees sheltered in nearby buildings as the celebration, which included a speech by President Donald Trump, was delayed by several hours before resuming.
Similar disruptions occurred elsewhere. Severe storms brought wind damage, lightning, and flash flooding risks to parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
In Illinois, one weather-related death occurred in Fox Township when high winds felled a tree onto a camper trailer, killing a 47-year-old woman.
Lingering Heat and Cooling Trends
Forecasters predicted another round of severe weather and possible flash flooding on Sunday in the mid-Atlantic and South.
A level 2 of 5 slight risk covered areas from Charlottesville, Virginia, to north-central New Jersey, including Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington.
Highs on Sunday were expected to be in the low 90s in Philadelphia and the mid-90s in the capital. Heat indexes remained dangerous in many spots.
The multi-day heat wave is forecast to ease in the Northeast, with New York City reaching the upper 80s and Boston the 70s on Sunday, 10 to 15 degrees cooler than July 4.
Much of the South will stay hot and humid into the work week, though shifting toward more typical summer conditions in some areas.
Extreme Heat as Leading Killer
Officials emphasized that extreme heat ranks as the top weather-related killer in the United States. Sherrill noted this period marked the hottest stretch in over 14 years for some locations.
More than 500 incidents of wind damage were reported across the Plains, Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Power restoration efforts continued in New Jersey, with mutual aid from other states.
State authorities urged residents to use cooling centers during outages and seek medical help for heat-related symptoms. Investigations into the exact causes of the New Jersey deaths continue through medical examiners.
