Millions of people across the Midwest and Great Lakes states are enduring brutal heat and humidity Tuesday, with no quick end in sight before the oppressive conditions push eastward toward the Atlantic coast.
The National Weather Service pulled no punches in its assessment, describing the situation as “dangerous.” Heat index readings — which factor in both air temperature and moisture in the air — topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius) in several locations. Officials warned that the conditions pose a serious risk for heat-related illness, particularly for those without access to air conditioning.
In Detroit, air temperatures climbed into the high 90s and could potentially hit 100 degrees at some point through Thursday. City officials responded by opening a dozen recreation centers to the public as cooling refuges, with some staying open as late as 11 p.m. Large portions of Michigan, along with Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and much of Iowa, are under an extreme heat warning.
The heat wave is expected to move into the Northeast next, with cities like New York and Boston set to experience the worst of it around the Fourth of July holiday. In Norristown, Pennsylvania — about 20 miles (32 kilometers) outside Philadelphia — officials have already canceled a Saturday parade due to the anticipated weather.
In Chicago, the History Museum opened its doors free of charge to Illinois residents Tuesday, offering a cool escape from the heat. The extreme temperatures also caused roads in parts of Illinois to buckle and crack, a phenomenon that occurs when pavement has no room to expand in the heat and forces itself upward.
Detroit window washer Stephen Mason, 72, was already on the job at 9:15 a.m., cleaning mayflies off the glass of a local convenience store. He started early to get ahead of the worst of the day’s heat — but even then, temperatures had already reached 85 degrees (29.4 C).
“It’s the only way to beat it. But it’s already starting to cook out here,” Mason said.
Nearby in Detroit’s Indian Village neighborhood, 36-year-old runner Adam Schubatis was pushing through a shortened route of just 6 miles (9.6 kilometers), going shirtless to cope with the heat.
“I know where all the drinking fountains are,” he said. “My wife thought I was crazy. She offered to pick me up if I got tired or if there was anything I was doing that wasn’t safe.”
In Milwaukee, more than 100 firefighters battled a school fire for hours in the sweltering heat. Fire Chief Aaron Lipski said crews were rotating shifts and removing their heavy protective coats to rehydrate throughout the effort.
In Grosse Pointe Park, a suburb of Detroit, 64-year-old George Liller stepped up to help his neighbors. After installing air conditioning in his own home, he posted a spare window unit on Facebook — free to whoever needed it, extension cord and remote control included.
“It was probably on my porch maybe 15 minutes,” Liller said. “That air conditioner was given to me. I thought, ‘Somebody needs it.’ I know how it feels to be in an old house when it’s this hot.”
