The heat wave that hit the US West Coast over the past week is now moving eastward into the Midwest and Southeast, causing millions of Americans to be under heatstroke warnings at some point in the past week.
“Numerous record-tying or record-breaking high temperatures are possible across the Central High Plains and Southeast on Sunday, and across much of the East Coast by Monday,” the National Weather Service reported.
This Tuesday, temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in East Coast cities like Baltimore and Washington, D.C. Temperatures in the West are expected to drop to typical summer averages.
Temperatures in New York City are expected to rise into the mid-90s on Tuesday, with heat index levels expected to range from 95 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Monday through Wednesday. Meanwhile, the heat index could reach as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit in some parts of the city.
More than 245 million Americans are expected to experience temperatures in the 90s and at least 30 million will experience temperatures above 100F this Sunday through Wednesday, according to AccuWeather’s forecast.
Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina, are expected to see potentially record-breaking daily temperatures, while St. Louis, Missouri, is expected to see temperatures near or above 100 degrees Fahrenheit through Monday.
“Keep in mind that older adults, young children, people taking medications and those with weight or alcohol issues are the people most susceptible to heat stress,” the National Weather Service warned before the heat wave moved east. “This is especially true during heat waves in areas with relatively mild weather, like Wisconsin. It’s a good idea to regularly check on those most vulnerable to the heat and help them get relief from the extreme heat and humidity.”
June 2024 was the hottest June on record, with 14.5% of the world’s surface area experiencing record heat, beating June 2023 by 7.4% and marking the 13th consecutive hottest month.
Las Vegas, Nevada, saw a record-breaking seven consecutive days last week with temperatures at or above 115 degrees Fahrenheit, with the highest temperature on record reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit on July 7.
As of July 2024, approximately 37 heatstroke deaths have been reported in the United States, although this number is likely an underestimate due to the time it takes to complete investigations into deaths.
