Over 170 million Americans are roasting under a giant heat dome that is sending temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the eastern US.

AccuWeather is calling this the widespread heat wave of the year, with 25 states falling under this ‘record-challenging’ event.

AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter warned: ‘This is a strong and dangerous heat wave to kick off the summer.’

There will be little relief from the heat at night on Tuesday with temperatures expected to stay above 80 in many cities throughout the Northeast.

Porter added that this significantly increases the risk of heat-related illnesses among Americans who don’t have air conditioning or those who are particularly vulnerable to hot weather, like the elderly.

Major cities, including Baltimore, New York, and Philadelphia are predicted to hit 100 degrees through at least Tuesday.

This would mark the first time in decades that these Northeastern cities experienced triple-digit heat in June.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warnings for Tuesday, urging everyone from Richmond, Virginia to Boston, Massachusetts to limit their time outdoors as much as possible.

The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat warnings for Tuesday and is urging Americans to stay indoors and in air conditioning

Parts of eastern and northern New England, including cities in Massachusetts and Maine, which AccuWeather noted are sometimes spared extreme heat domes, may reach 100 degrees when the heat peaks Tuesday afternoon.

Meteorologists said that the heat will be less extreme in the Midwest, but temperatures are still expected to reach the 90s as the heat dome stretches into the center of the country.

A heat dome is a weather phenomenon where a large area of high-pressure air traps hot air underneath it, like a lid on a pot.

Imagine a giant bubble of warm air getting stuck over a region of the US, preventing cooler air from moving in.

This causes temperatures to soar, often leading to prolonged heat waves with very high temperatures and humidity.

This week’s heat dome covers move than half of the US, with large metropolitan areas like Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, Memphis, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis also baking in the humid weather.

The forecast for Wednesday is almost as grim, with AccuWeather’s ‘real feel’ temperatures projected to exceed 100 degrees across most of the US, from New York to Dallas.

The heat will be even worse in the Southeast, as meteorologists warn that it’ll feel like 110 degrees in parts of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Virginia, and the Carolinas.

Wednesday’s forecast warns that temperatures in the Southeast could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit, making outdoor activities extremely dangerous

Experts warn temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast could exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit due to a ‘heat dome’ (Stock image)

The extreme temperatures this week have affected more than people, it’s also destroyed American infrastructure as well. 

Just before 3pm ET Sunday afternoon, a video captured a roadway in Cape Giradeau, Missouri splitting open under the stress of the heat.

A gray Toyota traveling past a local car dealership was sent into the air by the broken pavement, according to KFVS News.