Dangerous heat and humidity are bearing down on the Northeast on Thursday, following a surge of more than 350 storms on Wednesday — one of the stormiest days of 2026 so far.
An estimated 92 million people are at risk for severe weather across two regions: from the Great Lakes to the Central Plains, and from the Mid-Atlantic to the Northeast. Storms could bring wind gusts up to 75 mph, destructive hail up to 2 inches in diameter, and the possibility of tornadoes.
Major cities that these storms could impact include Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Detroit, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City.
The National Weather Service office in the Philadelphia area warned on X that storms could produce damaging wind gusts and brief but intense downpours.
On Thursday, the NWS also issued a tornado warning in Lincoln, Illinois, after a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was spotted near Dalton City. Officials warned that flying debris could pose a serious threat to anyone without shelter, with damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles likely, along with significant tree damage.
The threat of severe thunderstorms also brings a risk of flooding. Nearly three million people are under Flood Watches across parts of Iowa, Illinois, and a small portion of northeast Missouri through Friday.
The severe weather comes just days after flooding put 13 million people under flood watches and triggered widespread power outages. At one point, 35,000 customers were without power Tuesday afternoon.
Storms are not the only concern. Many of the same regions are also facing a surge of extreme heat. Despite it being early June, roughly 80 million people from California to the Northeast are at risk for dangerously high temperatures, with highs running 10 to 20 degrees above average.
Cities under heat alerts over the next few days include Fresno, Oklahoma City, Jackson (Miss.), Raleigh, Cleveland, and New York. High humidity will push heat index values into the 95–110°F range for millions. The National Weather Service defines a Heat Advisory as conditions where the combination of heat and humidity is expected to feel like 95–99°F for two or more consecutive days, or 100–104°F for any length of time.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani warned on X that “extreme heat and thunderstorms are rolling in.” He urged residents to seek air conditioning, check on neighbors, and take advantage of hundreds of free cooling centers being activated across all five boroughs. He also cautioned that scattered showers and thunderstorms may continue through Friday, with the heat index potentially hitting 100°F on both Thursday and Friday.
The DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management office posted on Thursday afternoon that the District of Columbia is under a heat alert until Saturday. The agency posted ways to “beat the heat”; it included staying in air-conditioned or shady areas, taking frequent breaks while working outside, and drinking water to stay hydrated.
