Is this the final hot spell of summer?

An intense yet brief heatwave is impacting parts of the Midwest and Northeast today, pushing temperatures into “dangerous” ranges in cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia.

According to AccuWeather, this could be the hottest weather some regions experience all summer, with temperatures soaring into the upper 90s and low 100s, factoring in the heat index.

The heat is impacting millions: As of Tuesday morning, nearly 61 million people in the Midwest and Northeast are under heat alerts, with warnings potentially extending into the mid-Atlantic region on Wednesday, as reported by the National Weather Service.

While the intense heat is expected to ease tonight in the Midwest, forecasters predict it will linger in the Northeast into Wednesday.

On the other hand, the first snowflakes of the season are anticipated in the mountainous areas of northwestern Montana on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

The weather service cautioned those who plan to be outside in Montana to take precautions against hypothermia.

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Extreme Heat Warning

The severity of the extreme heat in the Midwest and Northeast, paired with stifling warm nights, is expected to create hazardous conditions, especially for the elderly and individuals with existing health issues, according to the weather service.

For instance, those in Chicago can reach out to 311 to arrange welfare checks on elderly relatives or friends or to locate nearby cooling centers.

Residents are advised to stay hydrated, remain in air-conditioned spaces, and avoid direct sunlight.

Additionally, it is vital to never leave children and pets alone in parked cars, as interiors can reach dangerously high temperatures within minutes, according to the weather service.

Temporary Heatwave

This episode of record heat is expected to be brief, as a cool high-pressure system moving into southern Canada is predicted to bring a cooler and wetter air mass to the Great Lakes by Wednesday. This system will quickly be carried into New England by Wednesday evening, reaching the mid-Atlantic by Thursday morning after a sharp cold front.

A second cold front forecasted to pass through by the weekend will likely end the summer heat for now as the transition from August to September occurs, stated Bill Deger, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.