It was hotter in Alaska than in New York City this week

A massive heat wave this coming week will affect most of the contiguous United States, but record temperatures have already struck in Alaska, where a high of 88 degrees in Fairbanks on Wednesday was warmer than New York City. A town called Deadhorse on Alaska's northern coast, inside the Arctic Circle, hit an all-time high of 85, nearly 30 degrees above its typical temperature for this time of year.

For those of us in the lower 48 — especially in the Great Plains, Midwest, and Southeast regions — the upcoming heat wave, with highs in the 100s throughout the center of the country, may make July the hottest month on record in America.

The heat will be accompanied by high humidity and may top 110 degrees in states like Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up