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The US looks set to face scorching temperatures this week, as the first significant heatwave of the season gets underway. Much of the Midwest, Great Lakes, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic are forecast to see potentially record-breaking heat lingering throughout the first half of the week. The longevity of the extreme temperatures expected in some locations has not been experienced in decades.Numerous daily high-temperature records and even a few monthly records for June could be broken from the Ohio Valley to the Northeast, with local maximum temperatures predicted to reach up to 40.5°C (105°F). IFLScience is not responsible for content shared from external sites.But soaring temperatures are far from the only weather phenomenon the US will have to contend with, as heavy rainfall, flash flooding, snow, and storms have all been predicted in various locations across the country.According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Americans should anticipate “heavy wet snow across the northern Rockies into the new week. Meanwhile, deep tropical moisture is expected to move ashore across the Gulf Coast States with the threat of heavy rainfall. This threat extends into the upper Midwest where flash flooding and a few severe storms [are expected].”In the meantime, the heatwave will spread from the central Plains to the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and the Northeast today and will remain across the Northeast through midweek, as per the latest update from the NWS’s Weather Prediction Center.Over the next couple of days, a low-pressure system is forecast over the central High Plains, which is expected to intensify as it heads toward and reaches the upper Midwest. Ahead of this low-pressure system, “a heat wave is quickly emerging,” the Weather Prediction Center explains.“The heat will surge into the Northeast by Tuesday where high temperatures well up into the 90s [90°F/32°C] are forecast as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire. By Wednesday afternoon, some locations in interior New England could see temperatures topping the century mark [100°F/38°C], which will break daily records at certain locations.”This means that, by Sunday, 268 million people are forecast to see air temperatures reach or exceed 32°C (90°F), Axios reports.Meanwhile, in the Four Corners region of the Southwestern US, “critical fire danger conditions are anticipated today under persistently dry conditions.”Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US, so the NWS urges that people take the heatwave seriously and tread carefully, particularly those who are at greatest risk from the effects of extreme heat, such as older people, pregnant people and infants, and those with chronic medical conditions. For tips on how to stay safe in the heat, check out the NWS’s handy resources.

As part of this year’s Juneteenth celebrations, the US National Park Service is offering free entrance to all of its parks. This includes Death Valley, where the day is set to be an absolute scorcher.California recently experienced a record-breaking heatwave, and the high temperatures seem set to continue. Death Valley National Park currently has an “Extreme Summer Heat” alert in place, with temperatures expected to reach 38°C to 54°C (100°F to 130°F).Juneteenth is likely to be no different, with temperatures at Furnace Creek, where the park’s visitor center is located, currently forecast to reach highs of 43°C to 44°C (109°F to 112°F). As a result, park rangers have issued advice on how to stay safe during a trip to Death Valley on Juneteenth, or any other summer day in the park.One tip is to try and avoid the heat entirely. If you’re after a long hike, this might be by sticking to higher elevations where temperatures are cooler, such as the Telescope and Wildrose Peak Trails. For shorter walks down in the valley after 10 am, it’s recommended to stay close to an air-conditioned car – there’s still plenty of scenic locations like Badwater Basin and Dante’s View to be seen this way. Either way, it advised to travel on paved roads and also keep an eye on whether or not there’s any cell service – many places in the park are without it.Higher temperatures mean that it’s important to drink plenty of water, as the risk of dehydration is increased; our bodies sweat more in the heat to try and keep themselves cool, but those fluids need to be replaced. Park rangers also suggest eating salty snacks, as this helps to both retain water and regain sodium – which has multiple important roles in the body – lost through sweating.Advice from the park also includes avoiding the Sun by seeking shade during the hottest part of the day and making good use of accessories like sunhats and umbrellas.Keep all that in mind and you’ll be ready for a Juneteenth visit – but why are the parks waiving fees on that day?What is Juneteenth?January 1, 1863, marked the issuing of the final Emancipation Proclamation by US President Abraham Lincoln, a significant step in bringing an end to slavery in the country. However, not everyone was freed immediately – much was hanging on the Union gaining military victory over the Confederacy.Over two years later, Union troops finally arrived in the westernmost Confederate state of Texas with news of freedom for the 250,000 enslaved African Americans there. This happened on June 19, a date that came to be remembered and celebrated in the form of Juneteenth, a portmanteau of the date.  Though it’s been honored by many since that time, it was only in 2021 under President Joe Biden that Juneteenth became a federal holiday. Following what it’s done for other important holidays in the US, the National Park Service announced last year that it would be offering free entry to its sites on June 19 to honor the day.“In addition to protecting beautiful places, the National Park Service protects our nation’s emancipation sites and stories,” said Death Valley National Park in a statement.