A brutal heat wave is baking the eastern U.S. for the second straight day, with scorching temperatures expected to linger until at least midweek. Tens of millions from the Midwest to the East Coast are facing dangerous conditions—unusual for June—as thermometers stay stubbornly high.

Editor’s Note: Heat waves aren’t just uncomfortable—they’re deadly, especially when they hit early in the summer before people have adjusted. This one’s affecting huge population centers, straining power grids, and putting vulnerable groups at risk. It’s another reminder of how extreme weather is becoming more frequent and intense.