25 dead in ongoing heat wave as storms bring flood, wind threats to East Coast

Heat25 dead in ongoing heat wave as storms bring flood, wind threats to East CoastAt least 18 record highs were set on July Fourth as celebrations kicked off in mid-Atlantic cities including Washington and Baltimore.Listen to this article with a free profile00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleMillions Face Severe Weather After Long July 4 Holiday Weekend01:48Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJuly 5, 2026, 12:13 PM EDTBy Mirna Alsharif and Christine RappA weeklong heat wave that officials believe has killed at least 25 people continued Sunday, with 40 million people under heat alerts across the East Coast, Southeast and Southwest.Limited time: Save 25% on NBC News subscriptionGet exclusive reporting, live Q&As and ad-free reading.At least 18 record highs were set on the Fourth of July as celebrations kicked off in cities including Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Raleigh, North Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. A young visitor shields themself from the sun during July Fourth celebrations in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.Finn Gomez / Getty ImagesOn Sunday, alerts will continue into the evening on the East Coast as heat index values reach 100 to 105 in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, Baltimore and Raleigh, as well as Charleston, South Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida. Heat index values reflect what the temperature feels like to the human body.Temperatures will finally start to drop this week, with highs generally in the 70s to low 90s throughout the East Coast.Visitors grab bottles of cold water at the Great American State Fair on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Saturday.Anna Rose Layden / Getty ImagesIn the Southwest, extreme heat watches cover parts of Arizona and California, including Phoenix and Tucson, and go into effect Tuesday through Thursday. Dangerously hot conditions are expected through midweek, with daytime highs reaching as high as 114 degrees.At least 25 people have reportedly died in the ongoing...