Fact Check: June heat wave brings temperatures 20 degrees above normal across the Midwest.

Fact Check: June Heat Wave Brings Temperatures 20 Degrees Above Normal Across the Midwest

What We Know

In June 2025, a significant heat wave affected the Midwest and East Coast of the United States, with temperatures soaring well above average. Reports indicated that temperatures in New York and New England were expected to be around 20 degrees above average, while areas in the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic were forecasted to be approximately 15 degrees above average. The National Weather Service issued heat advisories and excessive heat warnings across much of the Midwest, highlighting that conditions could persist through midweek, with some areas experiencing heat index values reaching up to 115 degrees.

Meteorologists attributed the extreme temperatures to a heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps hot air, leading to prolonged periods of high temperatures with minimal relief. This phenomenon was noted to be particularly dangerous given that many areas had experienced relatively cool temperatures leading up to the heat wave, making the sudden spike in heat a shock to the system (source-2).

Analysis

The claim that the June heat wave brought temperatures 20 degrees above normal across the Midwest is partially true. While it is accurate that temperatures in some parts of the Midwest did indeed reach around 20 degrees above normal, this was not uniformly the case across the entire region. For instance, while New York City and parts of New England were expected to see temperatures significantly above average, areas in the Ohio Valley were forecasted to be around 15 degrees above normal (source-1).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis is high, as they include reports from reputable outlets such as The New York Times and NPR, which are known for their thorough reporting and adherence to journalistic standards. However, it is important to note that while the forecasts provided a general picture of the heat wave, local variations in temperature can occur, and not every area within the Midwest experienced the same degree of temperature increase.

Conclusion

The claim that the June heat wave brought temperatures 20 degrees above normal across the Midwest is Partially True. While some areas did experience such extreme temperature increases, others saw more moderate rises, averaging around 15 degrees above normal. Therefore, while the statement holds true in some contexts, it does not universally apply to the entire Midwest region.

Sources

1. US Heat Wave: Latest Forecast for the East Coast
2. Intense Heat Wave Will Leave the Midwest Sweltering This Weekend
3. U.S. braces for first significant heat wave of summer
4. Record-setting heat wave headed to central, Midwest and eastern U.S.
5. June, All-Time Heat Records Set, Tied In Northeast, Midwest
6. Heat wave: How hot will it get? How long will it last?
7. Record-shattering heat wave hitting wide swath of US: Latest forecast