Hudson Valley Heat Wave and Severe Storm Leave Thousands Without Power

The Hudson Valley recorded its second‑hottest day in 25 years on July 2, 2026, with temperatures reaching 103 °F, according to the National Weather Service and data from Dutchess County Airport. The heat dome that produced the extreme temperature was followed two days later by a severe thunderstorm on July 4, which brought damaging straight‑line winds, heavy rain, frequent lightning and cloud‑to‑ground strikes.

The storm toppled trees, downed power lines and caused extensive property damage across Dutchess County. At the peak of the outage more than 39,000 customers lost electricity. Utility crews have restored power to over 22,500 customers and deployed 89 mutual‑aid personnel, with additional assistance continuing to arrive.

The combined heat and storm events highlight the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather this summer.