The heat wave caused disruptions to public transport across the Northeast. Amtrak said it will be forced to slow train speeds between 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. on June 24 between Washington, D.C., and New York, and between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, which could lead to delays.

From the Mississippi Valley to the east coast more than 150 million are under heat alerts. Scorching temperatures are hitting people in some of the largest U.S. cities. In D.C., the Washington monument remains closed according to a National Parks spokesperson.

More than 160 million Americans are under the highest level of extreme heat alerts during a wave of above-average temperatures.