Severe storms creep across the U.S. as intense heat plagues the coasts

StormsSevere storms creep across the U.S. as intense heat plagues the coastsMore than a dozen tornadoes were reported in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin on Thursday, causing intense damage to many homes. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A woman tries to cool herself in New York City on Thursday.Selcuk Acar / Anadolu via Getty ImagesShareAdd NBC News to GoogleJune 12, 2026, 8:51 AM EDTBy Rebecca Cohen and Kathryn ProcivIntense heat and severe storms are continuing to make their way through the United States this week and will creep into next week as summer temperatures officially take hold across the nation. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Friday will be the last hot day for the East Coast, with numerous record highs likely for cities including Baltimore, Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Raleigh — where it reached 101 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. This above-average warmth combined with high humidity will lead to dangerous heat index values of 95 to 105 degrees, but temperatures are expected to cool off this weekend.For the West, record heat arrives Sunday and Monday, with temperatures forecast to soar into the upper 90s to low 100s. Portland and Seattle could set record highs next week.Meanwhile, severe storms will continue through the weekend in many places. On Thursday, there were 500 total storm reports, making it the third-most-active day of 2026 so far. More than a dozen tornadoes were reported in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Devastating damage was seen in Illinois, with homes destroyed and debris littering the ground. In the small city of Streator, an entire cul-de-sac was ravaged by the twisters. Neighbors of one demolished home told NBC News that the couple who lived there was trapped under the rubble and had to be pulled to safety. Add NBC News to GoogleMultiple tornadoes leave a path of destruction across the Midwest02:52NBC News witnessed another man, trappe...