Record heat disrupts schools, camps across US

Extreme heat is reshaping school and summer camp plans across the country. Record-breaking temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast have prompted many schools to shorten their days for student safety.

In New Jersey and New York, districts are dismissing classes early, with one school rescheduling graduation to avoid peak heat hours. Massachusetts’ second-largest school district ended its year prematurely due to insufficient air conditioning.

Summer camps are also adapting. Some are slowing activities in Michigan, while Maine camps are shifting outdoor sports to morning hours. Legislative action is underway in New York to mandate cooler classrooms, pending gubernatorial approval.

Washington DC hit 100 degrees for the first time since August 15, 2016, ending a streak of 2,867 days without such extreme heat. It is the city’s 122nd day when temperatures hit triple digits since 1872.

Nearby Dulles Airport reached 100 degrees, breaking its 1988 record, while BWI Marshall in Baltimore hit 101—a new record. 

With temperatures consistently above 90 degrees for six consecutive days, experts foresee a hotter-than-usual July amid ongoing climate change.