Map Shows 25 States That Will Feel Hotter Than Death Valley Today

On Friday, millions of Americans across at least 25 states are expected to feel conditions hotter than those in Death Valley—often referred to as the hottest place on Earth—with the National Weather Service (NWS) issuing heat-related alerts for swaths of the country.

Why It Matters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that extreme heat can lead to heat-related illnesses, especially for older adults, young children, and individuals with chronic medical conditions.

Symptoms can include heavy sweating, muscle cramps, dizziness, and nausea. The agency reports that extreme heat is responsible for over 700 deaths in the U.S. each year.

Moreover, rising temperatures can worsen ground-level ozone pollution, potentially compounding existing health risks.

What To Know

According to Friday’s forecast for Furnace Creek—a community within Death Valley—heat index values, which reflect how hot it feels to the human body when temperature and humidity are considered, were expected to peak at around 101 degrees here.

Meanwhile, extreme heat warnings—issued by the NWS when “extremely dangerous heat conditions are expected or occurring”—spanned Illinois, Missouri, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware on Friday, where heat index values were expected to exceed 100.

The service forecast that Monroe and Saint Clair counties in Illinois, as well as Franklin, Jefferson, Saint Charles, and Saint Louis counties in Missouri could see index values up to 114 degrees over the coming days.

Elsewhere, heat advisories spanning the following states on Friday warned that heat index values could surpass 100 degrees in some areas:

• South Dakota
• Kansas
• Oklahoma
• Texas
• Arkansas
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Tennessee
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Ohio
• West Virginia
• Virginia
• North Carolina
• South Carolina
• Maryland
• New York
• Connecticut
• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts

What People Are Saying

NWS St. Louis, Missouri, said on X, Wednesday: “For most areas, the next two days will be the most uncomfortable days of the summer. Heat index values will range from 97-111+, with the highest values found in the St. Louis metro and southern areas.”

NWS Philadelphia/Mount Holly said on X, Wednesday: “Dangerous heat and humidity will return Friday with heat indices near 100-105° expected. There will also be a threat of scattered severe thunderstorms, with locally damaging winds being the main hazard.”

NWS Fort Worth, Texas, said on X, Friday: “A Heat Advisory is in effect for much of North and East TX today with potential heat indices up to 107 degrees. Hot and humid conditions will persist into the weekend with rain chances returning to parts of Central and East TX this afternoon and Saturday afternoon.”

What Happens Next

The NWS issues regular forecast updates on its website.