A dangerous, record-breaking heat wave will spread over the eastern United States and is expected to last several days.

Extreme heat warnings have been issued in Illinois, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Vermont, Iowa, West Virginia and South Dakota, where temperatures could rise over 110 degrees.

More than 170 million people will experience the highest level of extreme heat on Sunday and throughout the week, according to AccuWeather.

To know more about active alerts in specific areas, follow this link.

Here’s what to know:

First heat wave of the season

This is the first heat wave of summer 2025, and it’s coming in hot and humid. This will be the hottest week of the year, so far.

The National Weather Service warned that people must be extra vigilant.

“When our bodies aren’t acclimated to the heat yet – will make for an especially dangerous period for many,” the weather service posted on X.

Heat-related health issues

Extreme heat leads to an average of 800 deaths annually in the U.S. In 2024, 238 heat-related deaths outnumbered deaths by any other weather phenomenon such as tornadoes, hurricanes or flooding.

“The last day of a heat wave, and the day after a heat wave breaks, are often when most heat-related illnesses and emergencies are reported,” AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. “This is because health impacts from heat accumulate over time.”

In order to be prepared the NWS recommends drinking a lot of fluids, keeping the air conditioning on, avoiding staying outside for long periods of time and checking up on your loved ones.

Seniors and babies are particularly sensitive to extreme heat and extreme temperature changes. If there are any signs of heat exhaustion and dehydration, authorities recommend taking medical action.

Record high temperatures expected this week

In the Midwest and northeast, temperatures are expected to be 15 degrees higher than average, and humidity will make it feel even hotter. Nights will be “exceptionally warm,” according to Porter, and temperatures will not drop below 80 degrees in these areas.

The temperatures will stand between 90 and 110 degrees. New York City will experience 97 degrees, Boston will see 94-degree days and in Washington, D.C., the temperature could go up to 100. With 90-degree heat, Chicago will see its hottest day on record in the last few years.

According to The Weather Channel, changes in pressure and winds will create a heat dome that will flatten out slowly next week.

At the same time, snow is expected in Montana, also breaking records for the lowest temperature during this time of year.

The Los Angeles Press Club and other journalists are suing Kristi Noem, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, for using “Unnecessary and excessive violence to prevent them from exercising their First Amendment rights.”

The lawsuit also accuses DHS of violating the Fourth Amendment prohibiting arbitrary arrests, and the Fifth amendment, which demands due process of law.

“Since June 6, at least seven members of our organization have been subject to use of force or suffered a serious press rights violation by DHS officers,” Adam Rose, press rights chair of the Los Angeles Press Club, said in a statement. 

“Democracy depends on an informed public. An informed public depends on a press free to do its job without fearing violence by federal agents.”

On June 6, protests erupted in Los Angeles while Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) were conducting raids in the garment district rounding up undocumented immigrants.

On June 8, President Trump sent in 1,700 National Guardsmen and 700 Marines to help control the protests without California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) request or consultation.

As protests grew, so did the violence. Some protesters were throwing rocks at law enforcement or burning vehicles. Law enforcement was shooting rubber bullets and using tear gas against protesters.

The legal complaint reads, “DHS agents did not target their assault towards people posing a threat in any way. Rather, they fired their weapons indiscriminately and at every angle in front of them in the direction of the gathered community, hitting people in the head with projectiles and choking them with tear gas. Some agents shot tear gas canisters and rubber bullets directly at people as they did this.”

On June 18, Trump sent another 2,000 additional troops to the area.

The DHS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The plaintiffs are arguing that the excessive use of force led to many journalists being unable or fearful of covering the protests, essentially limiting the amount of press coverage.

“What happened in LA isn’t just a press crackdown, it’s an assault on the rights of all Americans, especially working people,” said Jon Schleuss, president of NewsGuild-CWA in a statement. “This state-sanctioned violence against journalists is meant to stop the public from learning the truth.”

The lawsuit explains how multiple journalists were hurt in their encounters with DHS.

Journalist Sean Beckner-Carmitchel was shot in the head with a rubber bullet and a tear gas canister by DHS agents on June 7, the complaint alleges.

The same day, Ryanne Mena, who was wearing visible press credentials and working with the Southern California Newsgroup, was shot with a pepper ball and rubber bullet.

This lawsuit was accompanied by a temporary restraining order meant to halt DHS’ actions in LA by the weekend. The request was denied on Friday.