The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a warning about an upcoming scorching heat wave that will affect a significant portion of the United States. Around 80 million Americans are expected to experience temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.
In a post on Twitter, the NWS stated that an “extremely dangerous and record-breakingly long heat wave” will continue in the Southwest and is expected to persist into the next week. The agency also mentioned that oppressive heat indices will be felt across the south-central and southeast regions of the country throughout the early weekend. Approximately 80 million people are expected to experience air temperatures or heat indices above 105 degrees during this time, with the possibility of numerous daily record-breaking high temperatures.
The NWS predicts that between July 19 and July 25, cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque, Salt Lake City, Reno, and Midland will experience maximum air temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Denver and Los Angeles will also have temperatures in the nineties during this period.
The Southwest region, particularly, is expected to continue experiencing threatening heat until July 28. Moreover, the Midwest can expect excessive heat to expand into its region during the middle of the coming week, with several locations potentially facing their highest temperatures of the year.
The NWS is urging people to take the heat seriously and avoid spending extended periods outdoors. It emphasized that the temperatures and heat indices will be at dangerous levels that could be potentially deadly to individuals who do not have adequate hydration or effective cooling methods. The agency also highlighted that heat is the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heat-related illnesses claim the lives of more than 600 Americans each year. Additionally, between 2018 and 2020, a total of 3,066 heat-related deaths were recorded.
The intense heat wave in the Southwest is attributed to a heat dome, which occurs when a ridge of high pressure forms in a particular region, trapping hot air and causing temperatures to rise to dangerous levels. As of July 20, close to 120 million people were under NWS’ heat alerts, indicating the widespread impact of the heat wave across multiple states. “Excessive Heat Warning” alerts were in effect for several cities, including Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Tucson, Dallas, and San Antonio.
In Arizona, multiple counties such as Maricopa, Pima, Gila, Yuma, Mohave, and La Paz have heat warnings that extend into Saturday night. Phoenix, in particular, has seen 22 days with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees this year, surpassing the yearly average of 21.
It’s not just the United States that is experiencing high temperatures; other parts of the world are also affected. In Europe, Rome has recorded record-high temperatures of 107.2 degrees, leading to a 20% increase in emergency room visits. Similarly, nine areas in France’s southern regions have experienced record-breaking temperatures.
Meanwhile, wildfires are raging near the Greek capital of Athens, further intensifying the heat in the region. In the Middle East, Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, recorded a high temperature of 122 degrees, while the northwestern region of China saw a national record of 126 degrees.
The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported that the first week of July was the hottest week on record worldwide. The organization highlighted that the exceptional warmth observed during this period coincided with the development of El Nino, a climate pattern associated with unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Professor Christopher Hewitt, WMO Director of Climate Services, mentioned that these extreme temperatures and marine heatwaves are expected to continue as El Nino develops further, extending into 2024.
In conclusion, the National Weather Service has issued a warning about an upcoming scorching heat wave that will affect millions of Americans. The intense heat, caused by a heat dome, is expected to persist in the Southwest and may expand into other regions. It is crucial for people to take the necessary precautions and ensure adequate hydration and cooling to protect themselves from the potentially deadly heat. This heat wave is not limited to the United States, as other parts of the world are also experiencing high temperatures, further highlighting the urgent need to address climate change and its impact on extreme weather events.
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