Much of the western United States has been cooking under one 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 unwanted record is expected to extend as the sweltering temperatures are likely to remain throughout the week. Monday also marked the eighth straight day that temperatures did not drop below 90 degrees, another record.
But it is not only the West that is being burned. 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 across the Lone Star State, where actual air temperatures have been 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 United States is far worse than the typical summer heat, experts say, and poses more risks as global temperatures continue to rise.
“We have very clear evidence that global warming is the main driver of this increase in the frequency of severe heat and the increase in the co-occurrence of severe heat,” said Noah Diffenbaugh, a climate scientist at the University from Stanford.
But the historic heat isn’t just a health and safety concern. For millions of households, it also comes at a huge financial cost. The national average household electricity bill it is expected to be higher than previous summers, reaching almost $200 per month. In many major cities, these bills can be much higher.
“We expect this year to be one of, if not the warmest on record, and we’re seeing this play out on a larger scale of things,” said Dan Johnson, a professor in Indiana University’s Department of Geography.
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