Urgent warning for 27 states as dangerous heat wave turns cars into death traps in just 10 minutes

The massive heat wave blanketing the US this week has reached its dangerous peak, and experts warn that going outside or sitting in a car could kill anyone in minutes.

The National Weather Service has issued a widespread Extreme Heat Warning on Thursday and Friday throughout the Northeast, New England, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest. 

Overall, 27 states are expected to see temperatures soar into the triple digits, and ‘feels like’ readings exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit, potentially setting records in multiple cities, including New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago.

However, the heat will feel even worse as more than 200 million Americans also sweat out the extremely high humidity, which health experts warn can bring on life-threatening complications within just a few minutes without drinking water or finding shade. 

Dr Omer Awan of the University of Maryland School of Medicine told the Daily Mail: ‘The more humid it is, the less likely we are to sweat, and then that can make us more prone to heat-related illnesses as well.’

‘All these things can happen not in hours, but in minutes if you’re exposed to extreme heat outside.’

NWS has also warned that conditions within locked and unattended cars can become lethal in just 10 minutes. This is especially true for children, pets and those with disabilities or chronic health problems.

NWS said in a statement: ‘This level of heat can be deadly for those without adequate cooling and hydration. Impacts to transportation infrastructure and electrical and water systems are also possible.’

In the Northeast, southwest and western Maine, New Hampshire, southern New England, the New York City metro area and parts of central New York and Vermont are expected to see the heat index reach between 100°F and 115°F.

The heat index is the ‘feels like’ temperature, which is hotter when the air is more humid. On a 90-degree day, high humidity can make the ‘feels like’ temperature reach 105°F.

However, forecasters have predicted highs in several major cities, including New York City, nearing 100°F on both Thursday and Friday, potentially pushing the heat index into a lethal zone for many residents.

Washington DC, much of Maryland, northern and central Virginia and parts of eastern West Virginia are expected to see heat indices up to 112°F.

Large parts of Missouri, including Kansas City and St Louis, southern Wisconsin, central Illinois, northern Indiana and parts of Iowa are predicted to reach triple digits and may surpass 110°F during peak heat Thursday afternoon. 

Dr Awan expressed concern that the extremely humid conditions throughout the US could lead to a repeat of the deadly heat wave which roasted Europe last month, killing more than 1,300 people since June 21.

‘If the body’s ability to dissipate heat become overwhelmed, and you start to sweat profusely, and you become dehydrated, and you’re losing a lot of volume of fluids. This can happen within minutes,’ Dr Awan said of heat-related deaths.

‘We’re talking about something like heat exhaustion, which is one of the heat-related illnesses, can happen within minutes where you have profuse sweating, you start to have a headache, you may feel dizzy, you may have fatigue, muscle aches.’

This is a breaking story. More details to follow. 

While the heat warnings from NWS vary from state to state, most will run through Friday evening, with some extending into Saturday evening on the Fourth of July.

Many areas will see little overnight relief, with low temperatures staying in the upper 70s and even the 80s, allowing heat to build up during the daytime over multiple days.