New York: More than 100 million people across the United States were placed under heat warnings on Sunday, as cities along the East Coast braced for potentially record-breaking temperatures. The heat dome responsible for these dangerous conditions continued its westward expansion, affecting regions from the Atlantic to the Rockies.
In cities like Baltimore and Philadelphia, temperatures were forecasted to approach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), while states such as Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming experienced highs in the 90s F—up to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year. The National Weather Service (NWS) indicated that Nebraska and Kansas would be next in line for the extreme heat by Monday.
Officials warned of perilous conditions in the Philadelphia area, where high humidity threatened to drive heat indices above 105 F (41 C), exacerbating the discomfort.
“This pattern suggests we’ll see intermittent episodes of extreme heat across a significant portion of the country into July,” remarked NWS meteorologist Marc Chenard. “While not continuous in any one location, above-normal temperatures will persist.”
Despite a slight cooling in the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes, and New England regions, the Northeast continued to swelter in temperatures in the 90s F, stretching from Virginia to New York.
Research underscores that climate change is a key factor behind the intensifying heat waves gripping the Northern Hemisphere this week and is expected to fuel hazardous weather patterns in the future.
The global impact of extreme heat is starkly evident, with reports of hundreds of deaths across Asia and Europe linked to the scorching temperatures affecting cities across four continents. During this year’s Haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, more than 1,000 deaths were attributed to the oppressive heat, according to Reuters.
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Meanwhile, New Mexico grappled with a series of weather emergencies, including a dust storm, flooding, and two wildfires. Responding to the severity of the wildfires, the Biden administration declared an emergency, citing two fatalities and the destruction of over 1,400 structures. The FBI announced a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the fires, which have razed approximately 25,000 acres (10,117 hectares) around Ruidoso, according to Inciweb.
While excessive heat posed challenges across numerous states, others dealt with flooding. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster proclamation for 21 counties on Saturday due to flooding triggered by heavy rains in the state’s northwest. In Rock Valley, residents were evacuated with the assistance of the National Guard amid rising floodwaters. Southern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota were also under a flood advisory due to ongoing precipitation.
