Beaches reach capacity, coronavirus testing sites are shut down for safety and 115 million Americans are urged to stay inside as dangerous heat wave sweeps the US - and forecasters warn dozens of cities will hit 100F today
Americans flocked to beaches on Sunday as a heat wave caused COVID-19 testing sites to close Washington D.C., left New Yorkers to face air quality advisories and at least 10 states recorded heat index temperatures in the triple digits.
A heat wave that hit the United States on Friday and continued into the weekend prompted dozens of quarantine-fatigued citizens to catch some sun - despite several excessive heat and regular heat advisories in place.
The National Weather Service listed dozens of areas under the heat advisories and advised more than 100 million to stay indoors.
Fourteen states recorded heat index temperatures at or above 100F on Sunday, and a dozen cities are expected to experience that on Monday.
Massive crowds of Americans swarmed to sunny beaches on Sunday as a heat wave that arrived in the United States on Friday continues through the weekend and into the week
The National Weather Service has issued dozens of excessive heat and regular heat advisories to several states, including New York (pictured), New Jersey, Arizona, Kansas and Arkansas
Pictured: People try to keep cool at a crowded beach at Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York, as health officials issued air quality advisories caused by the extreme humidity on Sunday
At least 10 states on Sunday had feel-like temperatures that surpassed 100F, but weather officials predict dozens of US cities will see their heat indexes rise into the triple digits on Monday
The majority of heat advisories happened in the Northeast and Midwest, but the West Coast has also experienced warmer temperatures this weekend during the heat wave
A ginormous crowd of people, some of whom wore masks, were seen out and about in Huntington Beach, California, on Sunday were temperatures were high, but did not need a heat advisory
States with a triple digit heat index included Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee and Virginia.
A map by Weather.com appeared to show that Nevada and Virginia tied for the highest heat index at 107F. Arkansas came in a close second with 106F.
Although the heat wave's largest impact was on the Midwest and Northeast, several places on the South and on the West are also experiencing burning heat.
Phoenix, Arizona, had the hottest temperature on Saturday at 112F, and continued into Sunday with at 106F.
The heatwave and high temperatures are expected to remain in the United States until mid-week, then regions will begin too cool off slightly.
But the heat became so unbearable in Washington D.C. that officials announced free coronavirus testing sites will be closed on Monday because of 'dangerously hot temperatures.'
A heat advisory was implemented in the country's capital as temperatures reached 95F, with feel like temperatures of 104F.
Pictured: a map shared by The Weather Channel shows the shocking heat indexes felt across the US on Sunday, with Texas having several areas reach above 100F and similar numbers in Arizona
Pictured: People in New York City took advantage of the warm weather and, despite the National Weather Service urging people to stay inside because of the dangerous heart, visited Central Park
Pictured: Melissa Larsen (left) Alexa Larsen (center) and Clara Bai-Lee (right)wear masks on the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk in California on Sunday
Pictured: a woman wears a black face mask and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball cap as she crosses the street in Huntington Beach, California
On Saturday, the hottest temperature in the United States was found in Phoenix, Arizona, where it reached a shocking 112F with a soaring heat index
A woman sells umbrellas at Coney Island in Brooklyn as New York City officials revealed a regular heat advisory had been placed in several cities this weekend
A woman in New York City was so overwhelmed by the heat on Sunday that she stood atop a park water fountain and let the water spray her
The testing closure will affect sites in firehouses, downtown Washington D.C. and the Anacostia neighborhood, WTOP reports.
Grocery store distribution sites that are found in city public schools will also close, but free meal sites throughout Washington D.C. will remain open.
At the moment, Washington D.C. has recorded more than 11,200 confirmed coronavirus cases and nearly 700 deaths.
Under the Trump administration, the country struggled to open and maintain coronavirus testing sites and several states struggled to obtain PPE supplies.
Pictured: a graphic showing the forecast heat index expected along the Northeast on Monday
Pictured: People wearing facemasks line up to receive Communion at an outdoor Sunday service at Saints Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, California
Californians battled the heat and still attended an outdoor church service on Sunday, where attendees appeared to social distance and wear mandated face masks
But one of the largest problems still facing residents is getting test results back in a timely manner, while several labs and test sites are inundated with backlog.'If you want people to seriously quarantine, you can’t wait that long, Aaron Cushing of the DMV area told The Washington Post.
Some patients in Washington D.C. have reportedly been told that results could take up to two weeks or longer.
'I would have very happily stayed at home for three to five days. But you can’t ask people to stay at home and put life and work on hold for three or four weeks,' added Cushing.
Storm Team4 Meteorologist Lauryn Ricketts predicted that Monday could be the first time since August 2016 that the city could record a 100F day. Temperatures on Monday are expected to feel like 110F with the heat index.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser enacted the Heat Emergency Plan in response, and that will last from July 18 to July 22 in order to maintain public cooling centers.
Dozens of residents in New Jersey appeared on the Jersey Shore boardwalk on Sunday, with many ignoring social distancing and very few masks in sight
In Washington D.C., a heat advisory scheduled for Monday will cause free coronavirus testing sites to close down because of the dangerous heat
Fans look on during the NASCAR Cup Series O'Reilly Auto Parts 500 at Texas Motor Speedway on Sunday and wear face masks as cases spike in the state
Cooling centers at local recreation centers, public schools and homeless shelters will be open from 11am to 7pm, or when it is safe to be outdoors again.
Those who wish to visit cooling centers will be required to wear a face mask and will be asked to sit in a seat that follows social distancing guidelines.
The heat advisory in Washington D.C. will begin at noon on Monday and end at 8pm.
The NWS Baltimore-Washington wrote on Twitter that temperatures at the Dulles International Airport, at 98F, tied for the record high on July 19, which was first set in 1977.
New York state had several heat advisories set in place and a handful of air quality alerts.
Mayor Muriel Bowser (left) enacted the Heat Emergency Plan in response, and that will last from July 18 to July 22 in order to maintain public cooling centers
Pictured: a graphic from the National Weather Service that shows the heat index temperatures in the Baltimore/Washington Area
A record for the hottest temperature recorded at the Dulles International Airport in Virginia tied on Sunday as local highs reached 98F
The Big Apple on Sunday saw a high of 94F and on Monday can expect to feel slightly raised temperatures to 96F.
But the heat index on Monday in certain parts of New York will reach the triple digits.
While the weather will like 99F in Manhattan, the heat index near the John F. Kennedy International Airport will reach 100F and Long Island's Farmingdale will reach 101F.
Nearby states like New Jersey and Connecticut, both of which have heat advisories, rank even higher with their expected temperatures.
The city of Hartford on Monday will have a heat index of 104F, as will New Brunswick and Freehold in New Jersey.
New Jersey is one of the areas still under an excessive heat advisory, particularly in Trenton and Atlantic City.
The heat index near the John F. Kennedy International Airport will reach 100F and Long Island's Farmingdale will reach 101F in New York City on Sunday
Pictured: People walk under the pier too cool off from the burning sun and humidity as they visit the beach at Coney Island in Brooklyn on Sdunay
New York City officials announced they were installing 250 additional cooling units around the city as they prepare for a searing summer this year
Pictured; The National Weather Service shared a graphic that showed the heat index in the New York, New York area
But Con Edison in New York warned that the heat wave could cause blackouts and service outages.
'The heat, humidity and increased demand for electricity to power air conditioners can cause cables to overheat and lead to outages,' the utility company said on its website.
'The coming days could also bring thunderstorms, which can affect the overhead delivery system and cause outages.'
And the NWS issued an air quality advisory for New York City between 12pm and 8pm due to the increased humidity.
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation also issued an air quality alert for the metropolitan area that ends at 11pm on Sunday.
Mayor Bill de Blasio's office said on Twitter that the city would install 250 news cooling elements.
The National Weather Service for New York, New York, warned that heat indexes in the state will get around 100F and an advisory will be in place until 8pm on Monday
Con Edison said it is prepared in case of any service outages or blackouts that might hit new York state during the heat wave this weekend. Pictured: A man makes bubbles at a crowded beach at Coney Island in Brooklyn
New York's Department of Environmental Conservation also issued an air quality alert for the metropolitan area that ends at 11pm on Sunday.
Pictured: A girl sits on her father's shoulders near the fountain in Washington Square Park as the city moves into Phase 4 soon of re-opening following restrictions imposed to curb the coronavirus pandemic on July 18, 2020 in New York City
Santa Ramos (pictured) waves to friends from the surf on Hollywood Beach, Florida, where coronavirus cases have surged in recent weeks
A boat floats in the sear near the Seaside Heights during sunset in Jersey Shore, New Jersey, where an excessive heat advisory has been implemented since Saturday
Father Mike Rizzo wears a face mask as people line up to receive Communion at an outdoor Sunday service at Saints Simon & Jude Catholic Church in Huntington Beach, California
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