More than 85 million Americans from the central United States to the Northeast are under heat warnings or advisories Saturday morning as officials across the country urge people to take precautions when outside Open air.
“Sweltering heat across the northeastern U.S. this weekend could cause more than 30 stations to approach or exceed their record high temperatures by Sunday, with high humidity driving triple-digit heat indices throughout the I-95 corridor,” the Weather Prediction Center said. warned Friday.
“In terms of actual high temperatures, look for daytime highs to eclipse the century mark in the Central Plains and record high temperatures from the Central Plains to the Northeast today (Saturday).”
Heat index values, how the air feels, could reach at least 105 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend in parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, aided by sweltering humidity, the center said. prediction
The dangerous temperatures, which experts say are becoming more common around the world due to climate change, have prompted state and local leaders to take steps to help their residents cope with the oppressive conditions.
“Nighttime temperatures will have a hard time dropping below 80 degrees, especially in heavily built-up areas like Center City Philadelphia,” the National Weather Service office in nearby Mount Holly said.
In New York, the governor is urging people to take advantage of cooling centers and check on especially vulnerable communities.
“We need everyone to be alert this weekend, watching for any signs of heat-related illness and taking care of each other,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a news release.
In Philadelphia, where the air is expected to feel as hot as 107 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, officials extended a heat health emergency. Cooling centers, home visits by special teams and enhanced daytime care for the homeless are available through Sunday.
A heat emergency is in effect in Washington, DC, until at least Monday morning, as temperatures are expected to reach 95 degrees or higher, the mayor announced. Shelters and cooling centers have also been opened to serve those who need them, the mayor said.
There have been at least 2 heat-related deaths in the US this week
The extreme heat has claimed at least two lives so far this week.
In Dallas, a 66-year-old woman who had underlying health problems died of heat-related issues, a county official said Thursday.
And on Wednesday, a 22-year-old hiker died of possible dehydration and exposure in a South Dakota national park, the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The hiker was taken to a hospital after running out of water while hiking an unmarked trail in Badlands National Park.
Highs in the area this week have been in the 90s, according to the National Weather Service. Highs are typically 92 degrees in July.
In Arizona, Maricopa County officials reported that at least 29 people have died from heat-related issues since March, most of them outdoors. Last year, there were 16 heat-related deaths during the same period in 2021, the county’s public health department said. Meanwhile, dozens of other deaths are under investigation in the county for heat-related causes.
Excessive heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the US. Conditions imposed by climate change have made extreme weather events deadlier and more common.
In fact, heat deaths have outnumbered hurricane deaths by more than 15 to 1 over the past decade, according to data tracked by the National Weather Service.
Meanwhile, in New Mexico, two women died Thursday after flash flooding in San Miguel County, the sheriff said in a statement.
First responders found the bodies of the two women in a creek channel after seeing a car that had overturned, Sheriff Chris Lopez said. A man has also been reported missing in the flood, he added.
85% of the United States will experience high temperatures next week
About 85 percent of the U.S. population — or 273 million people — could see high temperatures above 90 degrees over the next week. And about 55 million people could see high temperatures of 100 degrees or higher over the next seven days.
On Saturday, “chilling temperatures” will grip the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Central Plains with temperatures expected to top 100 degrees, the weather forecast center said. said
Daytime temperatures could top 100 degrees across much of the Southwest, with some areas topping 110 degrees, the center said.
The south-central region can expect to see high temperatures in the triple digits each day between Sunday and Thursday, the forecast center said.
“There is some good news in the midrange (after the weekend) as an approaching cold front brings a brief injection of cooler temperatures to the Midwest and Northeast, but the core of the heat intense moving into the south central US and Pacific Northwest early next week,” the prediction center wrote.
CNN’s Samantha Beech, Robert Shackelford, Rachel Ramirez, Rebekah Riess, Paradise Afshar and Haley Brink contributed to this report.
