Much of the western United States has been baking under an extreme heat wave for so long that Phoenix, Arizona, has now recorded its record 18th consecutive day with temperatures soaring to 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. The undesired record is expected to widen as suffocating. temperatures are likely to hold throughout the week. Monday also marked the eighth straight day that temperatures did not drop below 90 degrees, another record. But it’s not just the West that’s getting the burn. On the East Coast, Florida is experiencing its hottest year on record, with Miami setting daily records in the mid-90s and heat indices soaring near 110. Heat advisories have also been in effect throughout the lone star state, where the actual air temperatures have been. it has been peaking in the triple digits for weeks. Temperatures in El Paso, Texas, have reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit for 32 straight days, and the National Weather Service expects a heat advisory to extend through the week. SEE MORE: Extreme heat is affecting Arizona’s homeless population What’s happening in the U.S. It’s far worse than typical summer heat, experts said, and poses more risks as global temperatures continue to rise. severe heat co-occurrence,” said Stanford University climate scientist Noah Diffenbaugh. But the historic heat isn’t just a health and safety concern. For millions of homes, it also comes at a huge financial cost . The national average household electric bill will be higher than previous summers, reaching nearly $200 a month. In many major cities, those bills can climb much higher. “We expect this year to be one of, if not the warmest of history, and we’re seeing this play out on a larger scale,” said Dan Johnson, a professor in Indiana University’s Department of Geography.
