East Coast Heatwave Turns Dangerous: 16 Hospitalized Following New Jersey Graduations as Temperatures Break Records

As a relentless heat wave tightens its grip across the eastern United States, 16 individuals were rushed to the emergency room following two high school graduations in Paterson, New Jersey, on Monday.

“Over 150 people were evaluated overall,” confirmed Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea. “Those taken to the hospital were in stable condition at the time of transport.”

The surge in heat-related emergencies comes as a powerful heat dome reaches its peak, sending temperatures soaring from the Midwest to the Northeast. According to the National Weather Service, about 150 million Americans were under heat alerts Monday. Temperatures are running 15 to 20 degrees above normal, making it feel more like mid-July than June.

More than 250 temperature records are on the line through Thursday, with cities like Philadelphia, New York, and Boston flirting with highs not seen in over a decade. New York tied its daily record of 96 degrees Monday, while Tuesday could reach 100, a mark last seen in June 1966.

The effects of the extreme heat extend beyond health. Over 100,000 customers lost power in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey. Roads in Missouri and Wisconsin buckled under the pressure, and Amtrak warned of delays due to “temperature-related speed restrictions.”

“Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US,” experts warn. And with climate change driving higher nighttime lows and longer-lasting events, this could be a sign of what’s to come for summer 2025.