Scorching temperatures across New Jersey have been blamed for at least 19 deaths in the first week of July, as an oppressive heat dome that settled over parts of the central and eastern United States gives way to severe thunderstorms that have left nearly a million homes and businesses without power.
State Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington said officials began seeing what they believe are heat-related deaths as early as Thursday, with most occurring in the central and northern parts of the state. By Saturday evening, the death toll had climbed to 22 people spread across 10 counties, with ages ranging mostly from the mid-30s into the 80s. These preliminary numbers are under investigation by the Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner.
“Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” Washington told reporters Saturday. “A few were outside their residences, some on the street and some even in parked cars.” The circumstances of the deaths varied significantly, underscoring how this was no ordinary summer heat spell.
The toll represents a dramatic increase from last year’s heat wave, which resulted in six heat-related deaths in New Jersey. Governor Mikie Sherrill called the current weather “the hottest stretch we’ve seen in over 14 years.” She emphasized that the danger extended far beyond vulnerable populations. “The heat’s hitting all of us, not just seniors, not just with underlying health conditions, people of all ages,” Sherrill said.
The heat reached extraordinary levels as the heat dome pressed down on the region. On Thursday, Newark’s temperature hit 105 degrees Fahrenheit, marking the first time since 2001 that the airport reached that threshold. Trenton climbed to 101 degrees, breaking the city’s record of 100 degrees set back in 1901. Atlantic City, New Jersey’s shore resort, experienced particularly brutal conditions, hitting 103 degrees on Thursday and breaking its 1966 record of 100 degrees. The city reached 105 degrees on Friday and 106 degrees on Saturday.
In the neighboring New York area, LaGuardia Airport set a new record high of 104 degrees on Thursday, surpassing the previous record of 101 degrees from 1966. The extreme temperatures disrupted July Fourth celebrations across the region, with the Macy’s fireworks in New York City pushed up by nearly 23 minutes to avoid incoming storms.
The heat dome created the perfect conditions for a prolonged heat event. A meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center explained that heat domes combine very high temperatures with high moisture and direct sunshine. “It was relentless. It was multiple days. It was not as cool overnight, as well. The low Friday morning in Atlantic City was 80. The body can’t recover as well. You just have that multiple day buildup and too much added stress on the body,” the meteorologist said.
What made this event particularly dangerous was the lack of nighttime relief. Overnight temperatures dipped only to the mid-70s to low-80s in urban areas, leaving residents without air conditioning with virtually no respite from the stifling heat and humidity. Health officials warned that fans and open windows would be insufficient—air conditioning was necessary to prevent heat-related illness and death.
The extreme heat strained infrastructure across the region. NJ Transit rail service experienced severe disruptions, with trains moving slowly due to equipment damage from the heat. Sagging power lines temporarily stopped trains, and one rescue train had to be deployed to retrieve about 300 stranded passengers. Heat also sparked a fire at Hoboken station, sending riders running from the platform. The utility operator for some trains said the excessive temperatures were the most they had experienced that year.
As the weekend approached, relief came—but at a steep price. Severe thunderstorms blew in late Friday and continued through Saturday, bringing heavy winds that toppled utility poles and split trees, sending branches and trunks crashing onto power lines. About 900,000 utility customers in parts of the central, eastern and southern United States were without electricity early Sunday afternoon. Michigan bore the heaviest burden with more than 305,000 customers in the dark, followed by New Jersey with more than 124,000, and Missouri with more than 100,000.
The storms produced more than 540 damaging wind gust reports across the central and eastern United States. Some of the strongest gusts included 92 miles per hour in Norman, Oklahoma, and 87 miles per hour in Suffolk County, New York. The severe weather also wrecked havoc on NJ Transit operations, with several rail lines suspended due to infrastructure damage from downed trees and toppled utility poles. Service disruptions were expected to continue through the weekend.
Additional severe weather threatened the region through the coming days. Heavy thunderstorms were forecast to develop and shift eastward from the Cleveland area, moving into Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York with chances for flash flooding. Slow-moving storms carrying ample moisture raised the risk of localized flash flooding, particularly across the mid-Atlantic, with rainfall rates potentially reaching two inches per hour in some areas.
State officials stressed that this was not a typical summer heat wave. “This type of heat can quickly become life-threatening to humans and to animals of all ages,” the New Jersey Department of Public Health said. Experts urged residents to stay hydrated, take breaks to cool down, and not underestimate the danger. Those without air conditioning were encouraged to locate nearby cooling centers operated by the state.
Looking ahead, the National Weather Service indicated that cool air from the north would gradually push the heat dome south and west, finally providing relief to the Northeast. Temperatures were expected to drop significantly over the coming week, falling into the 70s to low 90s across the East Coast by early next week—a stark contrast to the triple-digit temperatures that dominated the first week of July.