New Jersey has increased the number of deaths associated with the heat dome that smothered the tri-state for days leading up to and through the July Fourth holiday. The state’s Department of Health said the death toll connected to the heat had increased to 29 since their previous update on Satu rday. The deaths occurred during the first days of July, when temperatures topped 100 degrees in parts of the state and heat index levels were around 110 in some areas. The deadly heat wave stretched from Wednesday through Saturday. The state’s Department of Health (DOH) said most of the deaths occurred in Central and North Jersey, with the ages ranging from the mid-30s into the 80s. “While these numbers are still unconfirmed until a forensic pathologist completes the exam and death certificate, they underscore the serious public health risks associated with extreme heat and are a sobering reminder of the need for continued vigilance and heat safety measures during periods of extreme temperatures,” a spokesperson for the DOH said. No further information regarding the deaths was immediately available. New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington said during a previous press conference that the circumstances of the deaths varied significantly. “Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning; few were outside of their residence, some on the street, and some even in parked cars,” said Washington. A heat wave in 2025 resulted in six heat-related deaths, according to the health commissioner. Heat may not have been the only contributing factor. The arrival of powerful storms late Friday downed countless trees and knocked out power to thousands of utility customers, though it wasn’t clear if any of the deaths were inside homes impacted by outages. The heat wave finally ended Sunday, though multiple inches of rain led to flooding conditions in many parts of the state. ...read more read less