**Viral News Snippet:**

Viral News Snippet:

⚠️ BREAKING: “Heat Dome” to cook entire East Coast at 120°F - is this REAL or FAKE?

The Claim: A viral TikTok video showing a weather map with the entire I-95 corridor colored deep red is claiming we’re about to face a catastrophic “heat dome” bringing temperatures of 120°F (49°C) to cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. starting this weekend. The caption warns: “This is not a drill - unprecedented heat wave will break all records.”

The Verdict: 🚨 MOSTLY FAKE (with a kernel of truth)

What’s REAL: A heat advisory IS in effect for parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The National Weather Service has issued Excessive Heat Warnings for urban areas where the heat index (feels-like temperature, which combines heat and humidity) could reach 100-105°F. It will be dangerously hot.

What’s FAKE: The actual air temperatures will be in the mid-to-upper 90s, not 120°F. The 120°F number is a misinterpretation of the “Dew Point” or “Feels Like” models — some over-enthusiastic weather apps or social media creators are using a heat index chart incorrectly. No legitimate meteorologist is predicting 120°F actual air temperature for any major East Coast city. That would be a world-record-breaking event.

Why it’s spreading: Fear sells. The original video added a “Shock Value” filter to the weather map, making the entire region look like a fireball. The creator also spliced in footage from the 2023 Phoenix heat wave (where 120°F actually happened) to make the East Coast warning look more extreme.

Bottom Line: Take it seriously, not hysterically. Stay hydrated