From Tempe to Pittsburgh, These Cities Will Have the Highest Heat Risk Today
https://climatecrisis247.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/climate-NWS-Heat-Risk-for-June-27-2025-150x150.pngThis week, a brutal heat wave is affecting large swaths of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The NWS issued extreme heat warnings to more than 500 counties, affecting more than one in four Americans. Temperatures soared past 100°F in major metros like New York and Boston, with some cities experiencing triple-digit temperature for the first time in recorded history.
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While the heat dome is shrinking away from the coast, with heavy precipitation forecast to penetrate the high pressure ridge system along the Eastern Seaboard over the weekend, the heat dome is now concentrated over the Ohio Valley. Several major metro areas will face extreme heat risk today, with conditions in cities like Cincinnati and Louisville more dangerous than the hottest parts of Arizona and Texas. A closer look at the data reveals the cities with the greatest heat risk today.
To determine the cities with the highest heat risk today, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on heat risk from the NOAA’s National Weather Service. Cities were ranked based on average NWS HeatRisk score for June 27, 2025. Supplemental data on forecast temperature maximums are from the NOAA’s National Digital Forecast Database. Only cities with at least 150,000 residents were considered. Population data is from the U.S. Census Bureau.
25. Gilbert, AZ
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.00/4 (moderate)
- Maximum temperature: 105.9°F
- Population: 267,267
24. Tempe, AZ
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.00/4 (moderate)
- Maximum temperature: 105.0°F
- Population: 181,005
23. Huntsville, AL
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.04/4 (moderate)
- Maximum temperature: 94.5°F
- Population: 215,025
22. Toledo, OH
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.10/4 (moderate)
- Maximum temperature: 90.1°F
- Population: 269,962
21. Winston-Salem, NC
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.12/4 (moderate)
- Maximum temperature: 94.2°F
- Population: 249,571
20. Fayetteville, NC
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.69/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 95.8°F
- Population: 208,697
19. Lexington, KY
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.83/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 92.7°F
- Population: 321,276
18. Akron, OH
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.86/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 89.0°F
- Population: 190,273
17. Durham, NC
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.88/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 96.4°F
- Population: 284,094
16. Cary, NC
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.89/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 96.2°F
- Population: 174,880
15. St. Louis, MO
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.91/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 96.6°F
- Population: 298,018
14. Nashville, TN
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.92/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 95.1°F
- Population: 684,103
13. Cleveland, OH
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.94/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 86.2°F
- Population: 370,365
12. Norfolk, VA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.95/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 93.6°F
- Population: 236,973
11. Clarksville, TN
- NWS HeatRisk score: 2.98/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 94.1°F
- Population: 167,882
10. Newport News, VA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.00/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 95.4°F
- Population: 185,118
9. Richmond, VA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.00/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 97.5°F
- Population: 227,171
8. Pittsburgh, PA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.00/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 92.1°F
- Population: 303,843
7. Raleigh, NC
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.00/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 96.5°F
- Population: 465,517
6. Virginia Beach, VA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.18/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 91.5°F
- Population: 457,900
5. Chesapeake, VA
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.38/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 97.7°F
- Population: 249,377
4. Indianapolis, IN
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.47/4 (major)
- Maximum temperature: 91.8°F
- Population: 882,006
3. Louisville, KY
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.64/4 (extreme)
- Maximum temperature: 94.3°F
- Population: 629,176
2. Columbus, OH
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.68/4 (extreme)
- Maximum temperature: 92.8°F
- Population: 902,449
1. Cincinnati, OH
- NWS HeatRisk score: 3.83/4 (extreme)
- Maximum temperature: 94.1°F
- Population: 308,870
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