Summer is about to crank up the misery dial for millions across the eastern half of the United States. A punishing heat dome — one of the most potent in recent years — is gearing up to send temperatures soaring into the triple digits, shattering daily records and pushing power grids to the brink.

More than 15 million people from the Washington, DC, region down to parts of Florida are under a level 3-of-4 major heat risk through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. This heat doesn’t discriminate — it’s dangerous for anyone without reliable cooling or enough water to stay hydrated.

And it’s only the beginning.

This first wave of suffocating heat is being driven by a stubborn high-pressure system over the western Atlantic, sucking hot, moisture-laden air from the Caribbean into the U.S. That tropical origin means heat that doesn’t just scorch — it sticks, bringing sky-high humidity that makes nights unbearable and days feel even hotter than the thermometer shows.

While the worst of Thursday’s blast will bake Virginia and the Carolinas, parts of the Northeast and central U.S. will also sweat through an early taste of what forecasters warn is a more expansive and intense heat dome setting up for next week.

By the weekend, this dome will stretch its grip from the southern Plains to the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and deep into the Northeast. High temperatures across these regions are forecast to jump 15 degrees above normal, marking the hottest stretch of the year so far. Factor in humidity, and it could feel like 110°F — especially in cities like DC, New York and St. Louis.
By the weekend, this dome will stretch its grip from the southern Plains to the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and deep into the Northeast. High temperatures across these regions are forecast to jump 15 degrees above normal, marking the hottest stretch of the year so far. Factor in humidity, and it could feel like 110°F — especially in cities like DC, New York and St. Louis.

A level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk — the highest alert — is already on the radar for early next week. Cities including Chicago, New York City, Washington, DC and St. Louis could bake under unrelenting, long-duration heat with little overnight relief.

It’s not just an uncomfortable inconvenience: public health experts say this level of sustained heat can be deadly, especially for seniors, young children and anyone working outdoors.

Record books will feel the heat too:

• Denver could hit a daily record of 101°F on Friday.
• Chicago is bracing for back-to-back highs of 95°F Saturday and 96°F Sunday.
• New York City may flirt with daily records Monday and Tuesday, with highs of 95°F and 96°F — just shy of historic marks from the early 1900s.
• Washington, DC could push to a scorching 100°F, a rare June milestone that would rewrite local records.
• Even Boston isn’t safe: highs of 92°F and 94°F are forecast early next week.

Altogether, forecasters warn that over 150 daily temperature records could topple between Monday and Tuesday, including both record highs and record warm nighttime lows.

Experts urge everyone to check on neighbors, limit time outdoors, drink plenty of water and find cool shelter when possible. This heat dome is relentless — and it’s not leaving anytime soon.

A calm Thursday afternoon quickly turned chaotic across central North Carolina as a fierce line of storms, riding a sharp cold front, unleashed heavy rain, fierce wind gusts and a dazzling — and dangerous — display of lightning.

WRAL meteorologists had declared it a WRAL Weather Alert Day, warning residents of possible 60 mph wind gusts and periods of torrential downpours. By sunset, those warnings turned into reality.

Between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m., multiple severe thunderstorm warnings rippled across the state. Counties like Vance and Wake bore the brunt, with WRAL News receiving dozens of reports of downed trees — including one blocking traffic on Blenheim Drive in Raleigh.

Residents described the storms as fast-moving and aggressive, with intense bursts of lightning crackling across neighborhoods. According to the National Weather Service, the storms produced more than 7,000 lightning strikes across the region — enough to light up the night sky and test the patience of local emergency crews.

But it wasn’t just trees and roads taking the hit. Power grids struggled under the assault of falling limbs and gusting winds. In Durham, more than 13,000 Duke Energy customers found themselves in the dark at the peak of the outages. Crews scrambled overnight to restore power and clear debris as more scattered showers lingered into the early hours.

Meteorologists say the storms formed along a potent cold front clashing with warm, unstable air, a classic setup for North Carolina’s summer storm season.

Residents are urged to stay alert for more pop-up storms in the coming days as the pattern remains unsettled — and to keep extra batteries handy just in case Mother Nature has more surprises in store.