Paterson, New Jersey — A brutal heat wave sweeping across the Eastern United States turned two high school graduations into a mass casualty incident in Paterson, where over 100 people fell ill during outdoor ceremonies held on Monday, June 23, 2025.
Temperatures soared into the upper 90s Fahrenheit (above 35°C), with the heat index peaking at 107°F (41.6°C), creating oppressive conditions for hundreds of attendees gathered at Hinchliffe Stadium. According to the Paterson Fire Division, the first graduation ceremony led to about 50 individuals requiring treatment, with nine transported to local hospitals. Later in the day, a second ceremony saw around 100 more seeking medical attention, with seven hospitalized.
Despite efforts by Paterson Public Schools to manage the dangerous heat—including on-site EMTs, cooling stations, bottled water, and ice—the scorching temperatures overwhelmed many in the crowd. “Despite these efforts, the high temperatures led to discomfort and some attendees required medical attention,” the district said in a statement released Tuesday morning.
Superintendent Laurie Newell expressed regret, acknowledging the difficult conditions students and families endured. Several high schools, including P-TECH High School, Rosa L. Parks School of Fine & Performing Arts, STARS/T.I.E.S. Academy, STEAM High School, and Eastside High School, were scheduled to hold their ceremonies on Monday, but due to the extreme heat, some events were canceled mid-ceremony.
One student, Ciarra Bailey, who attends Rosa L. Parks, told News 12 New Jersey that while staff tried to help, the measures fell short: “It was exhausting. I couldn’t breathe.”
The rescheduled graduations will take place Thursday, June 26, at John F. Kennedy High School and Eastside High School, where all seniors will have a second chance to walk the stage. “We are looking forward to Thursday’s ceremony and couldn’t be prouder of our graduates,” said Superintendent Newell.
As the situation escalated, Mayor André Sayegh declared a state of emergency Monday evening. All recreational activities were canceled, and public libraries were turned into cooling centers to provide relief for residents without access to air conditioning.
This heat wave, labeled “deadly” by meteorologists, continues to blanket much of the eastern United States, placing nearly 150 million people under heat alerts from Maine down to eastern Texas, including densely populated areas like New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.
