As the US west coast slowly begins to recover from a week-long heatwave, the country’s attention is now shifting to the midwest and south-east, where millions of Americans are bracing for the arrival of sweltering temperatures. The National Weather Service has issued a dire warning, predicting that numerous near-record breaking high temperatures are possible over the central High Plains and Southeast by Sunday, and along much of the East Coast by Monday.
Cities on the east coast, such as Baltimore and Washington D.C., are expected to experience temperatures soaring to a scorching 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) by Tuesday. Meanwhile, temperatures in the west are expected to gradually return to typical summer averages. New York City is forecast to experience temperatures as high as the mid-90s on Tuesday, with the heat index expected to reach a sweltering 95-100 degrees Fahrenheit (35-38 degrees Celsius) from Monday to Wednesday. In some areas around the city, the heat index could even reach a staggering 105 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius).
This week, an astonishing 245 million Americans are expected to feel the heat, with at least 30 million people expected to face temperatures of 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) or higher. Daily records in Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, may be broken, while St. Louis, Missouri, is anticipating temperatures near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) through Monday.
Midwest and Southeast US HeatwaveAs the country prepares for the relentless heat, the National Weather Service is cautioning those most susceptible to heat-related stresses, including the elderly, small children, people on medication, and those with weight or alcohol problems. The agency is urging individuals to periodically check in with those at risk and help them obtain relief from the extreme heat and humidity.
The heatwave comes on the heels of a record-breaking June 2024, which was the hottest month of June on record and the 13th consecutive hottest month on record. In July 2024 alone, Las Vegas, Nevada, recorded a record-breaking seven consecutive days of temperatures 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) or higher, and reached its all-time highest temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) on July 7.
Tragically, the heat has already claimed 37 lives in the US this July, a number that is likely an underestimate due to the time it takes for investigations into deaths to be completed. As the heat continues to bear down on the country, Americans can only hope that the respite from the sun will come soon, bringing with it a chance for relief from this unrelenting heat.