Heatwave and high humidity to blast much of US: ‘impactful to anyone’ | US weather
A long, dangerous heat wave will hit much of the central and eastern United States next week, the National Weather Service (NWS) said Sunday; temperatures are rising ahead of the July 4th holiday and feeling even hotter due to high humidity.
While parts of the U.S., particularly Phoenix and central Texas and much of the southwest, were facing temperatures around 38°C on Sunday, the NWS warned that severe wildfire conditions were emerging across much of the West as new fires emerged across the region.
On Sunday, more than 130 million Americans were under moderate-to-severe heat risk conditions in the southern and Great Plains states, according to NWS maps; It is estimated that this region will expand and temperatures will intensify as the week progresses.
Forecasters say high temperatures (some above 100F) will occur for several days in the lower Great Lakes, mid-Atlantic, and the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. NWS meteorologist Bryan Putnam said some record highs could be set later in the week in areas from the lower Great Lakes to the mid-Atlantic and New England.
Some major cities may see their highest temperatures of the year as they host World Cup matches and US 250th anniversary celebrations.
East coast cities like New York City, Philadelphia, Washington and Baltimore will feel the heat, as will midwestern and Great Lakes cities like Chicago, Indianapolis, St. Louis and Detroit. Southern cities like Dallas; Little Rock, Arkansas; and Memphis, Tennessee will also experience high temperatures.
The NWS said high temperatures will continue through next weekend across the Great Plains, the southeast and the mid-Atlantic.
Temperatures will reach the 90s and low 100sF, the NWS said. High humidity will lead to heat indices as high as 100-110F and 115F.
“This is a heat that affects everyone,” Putnam said. “It’s not just older adults, young children, or people who are spending a lot of time outside, maybe pushing themselves a little bit harder than normal. This is a temperature that can really affect anyone, especially for people heading into the holiday weekend outdoors.”
The heat index, which also takes humidity into account and is included in many weather forecasts, gives an idea of how hot the air actually is and what makes it dangerous for long-term exposure or strenuous activity.
AccuWeather meteorologist Tyler Roys said temperatures will be significantly above normal. For example, in Washington, D.C., average high temperatures for the Fourth of July holiday are around 89F, while in Indianapolis, the average is around 85F. Roys said he could expect both cities to be 10 or 11 degrees warmer during that period.
The high-pressure system (an area of dry, sinking air) that creates the heat will act like a “rock” that will force storms to move around it and limit precipitation to the east, Roys said. This is sometimes called a “heat dome.”
Meteorologists said overnight lows of 70 degrees and even highs of 80 degrees won’t provide much relief.
For those without air conditioning, sleeping will be miserable, especially in east coast cities like New York, where the lowest temperature may not fall below 80F, Roys said.
Roys also said this is the prime time for heat-related illnesses because people’s bodies cannot heal and cool down.
During extreme temperatures, limit outdoor activities, stay hydrated and have access to air conditioning and other cooling areas, the weather service said.
Extremely dry and windy conditions are expected Sunday in the Great Basin and Southwest, which could encourage the rapid spread of wildfires, the weather service said.
In hot and windy conditions near the Colorado-Utah border, three firefighters working for the U.S. Wildland Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service were reportedly killed and two other firefighters suffered burn injuries when exposed to flames from fast-moving wildfires.
Wildfire activity has intensified in the western United States as hot, dry and windy weather fuels flames in Utah, Colorado, Arizona and elsewhere.
Extreme weather events, including dangerous temperatures and conditions ripe for wildfires, are symptoms of the world’s ongoing climate crisis, driven primarily by carbon emissions from burning fossil fuels.
Guardian staff contributed to reporting
