Record-smashing heat continues: ‘Basically the entire U.S. is going to be hot’ - AP News

AP News
March 23, 2026
3 min read

Quick Insights

The Bottom Line

Record-breaking heat will spread across nearly the entire U.S., posing public health and power grid risks.

How This Affects You

Extreme heat increases risk of heat-related illness or death, especially for elderly and low-income Americans without reliable air conditioning, and may cause power outages as cooling demand surges.

AI Summary

Extreme heat is spreading across the United States, with forecasters warning that nearly the entire country will experience elevated temperatures in the coming period. The heat wave is described as "record-smashing," indicating temperatures are approaching or exceeding historical highs for this time of year. Such widespread, intense heat poses risks to public health, strains power grids as demand for cooling surges, and can trigger heat-related illnesses or deaths, particularly among vulnerable populations including the elderly and those without adequate air conditioning. The scale of the forecasted heat—affecting most of the nation simultaneously—makes this an unusually consequential weather event that will likely dominate forecasts and emergency preparedness discussions.

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