Heat Advisories Persist Across Midwest, East With Storm Threats

A significant heat wave is impacting multiple regions across the United States with dangerous heat and humidity levels. Chicago is under a heat advisory through Thursday evening, with heat index values reaching up to 110 degrees, and conditions remaining hot even at night before storms bring some relief late Thursday. In Lubbock, Texas, temperatures will cool somewhat on Wednesday but are expected to rebound quickly, reaching triple digits by Friday and continuing through the weekend with storm chances. The D.C. region is also facing a strong heat wave, with temperatures potentially hitting near 100°F on Friday and heat index values exceeding 105°F on Saturday due to increased humidity. These heat waves are driven by high-pressure ridges and shifting jet stream patterns, creating widespread risks of heat-related stress and severe weather events including potential flooding from slow-moving storms. Overall, the eastern and central U.S. should prepare for extreme heat and hazardous conditions into the weekend, with some relief expected as storms develop.