July Heat Dome to Bring Dangerous Heat To East This Week

Throughout the year, temperatures in the United States typically peak in the month of July – and in the early days of July 2026, record shattering heat is already in the forecast for millions of Americans. From July 1st through Independence Day weekend, temperatures are expected to top 100°F in major cities up and down the Eastern Seaboard.

The looming heat wave is the result of a high pressure system known as a heat dome – the same phenomenon that recently impacted Western Europe and was reportedly linked to 1,000 excess deaths in France alone. Heat is the leading cause of weather related deaths in the United States, and some public officials are already taking steps to prepare for the triple-digit temperatures. In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has already signed an executive order that aims to protect outdoor workers, and in Baltimore, new safety protocols have been implemented by the Department of Public Works. 

Baltimore and New York are among several major U.S. cities where this week’s heat wave is expected to rise above 100°F and break daily records. 

Using data from the Southeast Regional Climate Center, Climate Crisis 247 identified the U.S. cities expected to be hit hardest by the July 2026 heat dome. We reviewed forecasts for average daily highs in over 400 American cities and listed the 10 most populous where temperatures are expected to top 100°F and break historical records between Wednesday, July 1 and Friday, July 3. Supplemental data on local populations are five-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey. Cities are ranked by the average difference between forecasted daily highs this week, and historical daily norms. 

 10. Raleigh, North Carolina

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 100.0°F – 2nd highest daily temp. record (9.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 103.0°F – highest daily temp. record (12.5°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 101.0°F – highest daily temp. record (10.4°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 140 years ago
• Local population: 481,031

 9. Richmond, Virginia

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 98.0°F – 7th highest daily temp. record (8.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 101.9°F – highest daily temp. record (12.7°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 101.9°F – highest daily temp. record (12.5°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 130 years ago
• Local population: 229,359

 8. Roanoke, Virginia

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 98.0°F – 4th highest daily temp. record (10.3°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 100.0°F – highest daily temp. record (12.2°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 100.0°F – highest daily temp. record (12.0°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 114 years ago
• Local population: 98,355

 7. Lynchburg, Virginia

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 97.1°F – 3rd highest daily temp. record (10.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 101.0°F – highest daily temp. record (14.4°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 100.0°F – highest daily temp. record (13.2°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 134 years ago
• Local population: 79,497

 6. Baltimore, Maryland (BWI Airport)

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 98.0°F – 2nd highest daily temp. record (9.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 103.9°F – highest daily temp. record (15.4°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 103.0°F – highest daily temp. record (14.3°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 88 years ago
• Local population: 573,243

 5. Arlington, Virginia (Washington Reagan Airport)

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 98.0°F – 4th highest daily temp. record (9.1°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 105.0°F – highest daily temp. record (15.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 105.0°F – highest daily temp. record (15.8°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 98 years ago
• Local population: 236,254

 4. Washington, D.C.

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 98.0°F – 5th highest daily temp. record (9.1°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 105.0°F – highest daily temp. record (15.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 105.0°F – highest daily temp. record (15.8°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 155 years ago
• Local population: 681,294

 3. Wilmington, Delaware

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 97.1°F – highest daily temp. record (10.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 100.0°F – highest daily temp. record (13.6°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 103.0°F – highest daily temp. record (16.6°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 115 years ago
• Local population: 71,727

 2. New York, New York (LaGuardia Airport)

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 99.1°F – highest daily temp. record (13.8°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 103.9°F – highest daily temp. record (18.5°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 102.0°F – 2nd highest daily temp. record (16.4°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 87 years ago
• Local population: 8,483,844

 1. Newark, New Jersey

• High temperature forecast for Wednesday, July 1: 101.0°F – highest daily temp. record (14.9°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Thursday, July 2: 105.0°F – highest daily temp. record (18.7°F warmer than normal)
• High temperature forecast for Friday, July 3: 104.0°F – 2nd highest daily temp. record (17.6°F warmer than normal)
• Local weather station record keeping began: 96 years ago
• Local population: 310,178