Updated Weather Forecast for Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest as Joey Chestnut Eyes Repeat on July 4

After a triumphant return to the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest last year, Joey Chestnut will be defending his title on Independence Day during a heat wave.

According to Weather.com, the projected forecast features a projected high of 97 degrees.

The men's championship is expected to start at 12:30 p.m. ET, with the women's championship occurring earlier in the day at 10:45 a.m.

The hourly forecast on Weather.com currently projects mostly sunny skies with a 15 percent chance of precipitation in the noon-1 p.m. ET hour. Temps will be between 92-94 around the start of the men's event. Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast but not until 7 p.m., well after the contests end.

NBC New York reported that an extreme heat warning is in effect for the entire New York City area except Long Island heading into the Fourth of July weekend. Temperatures reportedly "are expected to reach 100 degrees on Thursday and Friday," and the humidity "will push 'feels like' temps into the 105-110 range."

The report added, "Thursday and Friday will probably be the most extreme days, with only slight improvements by Saturday, the July Fourth holiday." The heat index for this weekend is expected to be "dangerous, if not deadly, to people with prolonged exposure or undergoing strenuous activity."

That doesn't bode well for Chestnut and the rest of the competitors in the Hot Dog Eating Contest, as they typically compete under the sun in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

Chestnut was banned from competing in 2024 due to a sponsorship conflict, but he returned to reclaim the throne in 2025 with 70.5 hot dogs and buns consumed in 10 minutes. The competitive eating legend is the frontrunner for another title, but he will have to contend with extreme temperatures this time around.