Emergency grid alert issued for East Coast as heat soars

Last edited Tue May 19, 2026, 05:00 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Independent

Tuesday 19 May 2026 11:21 EDT


As a heatwave suffocates the East Coast of the United States, the region’s power grid operator has issued an emergency alert warning of greater demand. More Americans are turning on their air conditioners, prompting PJM Interconnection LLC, which operates the power grid in 13 states spanning Washington, D.C. to Chicago, to declare a low-level emergency Tuesday.

“Temperatures in the 90s over much of the PJM footprint are driving increased electricity demand this week during the heart of the shoulder season,” the grid operator said, referring to the period between a destination’s peak and off-peak seasons.

Higher-than-average temperatures have been reported across much of PJM’s territory in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. D.C. was expected to hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37C) on Tuesday — almost 25 degrees above average. Heat advisories have been issued in many of the states within the grid operator’s region, including in New York City, where temperatures were set to reach 95 degrees (35C) Tuesday. The average temperature in the Big Apple this time last year was about 63 degrees (17C), according to Weather.gov.

As power supplies become strained amid the heatwave, the U.S. Energy Department issued an emergency order authorizing PJM to deploy backup generation at data centers and other facilities to help prevent blackouts, according to Bloomberg.

Read more: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/east-coast-power-grid-emergency-b2979557.html

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It got up to 95 here where I live in Philly (the official airport temp broke a 1962 record of 94 when they hit 96) and so far my high for today had been 95). Supposed to be the same tomorrow before a cold front and storms hit tomorrow afternoon.

Me and my sisters took our GA cousin (who came up to visit) out to dinner for her milestone 60th at what is billed as the largest outdoor restaurant in the country and is located by the Delaware River. So st least there was a breeze (and we could watch brave jetskiers zooming back and forth on the river.