Dangerously hot conditions are expected in the Midwest and Northeast and rising temperatures across much of the U.S. next week, as health officials urge people to make plans now to stay safe. A heatwave had already sent temperatures soaring in many Southern states over the weekend, and as of Sunday morning, heat watches, warnings or advisories were in effect for about 61 million people nationwide.
The heat wave follows an earlier-than-usual heat wave in the Southwest last week that saw temperatures reach triple digits in places like Phoenix and led to 645 heatstroke deaths last year. The temperature in the Arizona city reached 111 degrees Fahrenheit by 5 p.m. Saturday and rose to 112 degrees by the end of the day, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix. That was 7 degrees warmer than the average June 15 temperature of last year, 105 degrees Fahrenheit, but lower than the record highs of 115 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in 1896 and 1974.
The world saw Record high temperatures this yearMore than three-quarters of the world’s population has experienced extreme heat for at least one month.
Last year, the United States experienced its worst heat wave (two or more days of extreme heat) since 1936, and the South and Southwest experienced the worst year on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The next heat wave will intensify in the center of the country on Sunday before spreading eastward, bringing record daytime temperatures to some areas, according to the National Weather Service. This heat wave could continue in many areas through the week and into the weekend. In parts of the country, Heat DomeThis is where hot air gets trapped in the atmosphere.
What areas are expected to experience extreme heat?
According to the National Weather Service’s heat danger map, areas of extreme heat with little to no overnight relief are expected to appear from Texas to Maine. The Weather Prediction Center’s latest forecast shows the extreme heat is expected to spread rapidly eastward from the Plains states on Sunday, spread into the Great Lakes and northern Ohio Valley regions on Monday, and reach the Northeast on Tuesday.
Temperatures are expected to reach the mid- to upper 90s in the Mid-Atlantic and New England, “which is nothing to scoff at in the middle of summer, much less early summer,” National Weather Service meteorologist William Churchill told The Associated Press. Rising humidity will make many places feel hotter, Churchill said, and the Weather Prediction Center noted highs will likely extend as far north as Vermont and New Hampshire.
Forecasters predict there is a possibility of breaking daily and even monthly temperature records in the Ohio Valley and Northeast. Dew point Temperatures are expected to reach as high as 105 degrees Fahrenheit in some areas, according to the National Weather Service. Weather Prediction Center forecaster David Ross told The Associated Press that there’s a slight chance temperatures could reach 100 degrees in northern Maine.
“In the town of Caribou in northern Maine, we normally count how many days a year the temperature gets above 80 degrees. It’s very unusual that we could potentially reach 100 degrees,” Ross said.
Heat warnings will be in effect from Monday through the rest of the week in Pittsburgh as the city prepares for a heatwave that could top or tie the city’s one-day record of 95 degrees. CBS Pittsburgh Temperatures will likely reach triple digits, the station added, noting that Pittsburgh hasn’t seen a heatwave as severe as the current one since 1988.
National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag said metro Detroit could experience its hottest weather in more than 20 years, with temperatures in the mid-90s and heat indexes likely to remain in the range Monday through the weekend. It could be the region’s first day to top 100 degrees Fahrenheit. July 2012 onwards.
Nighttime temperatures will drop into the 70s, providing some relief, but if the heat continues, the cumulative effect will be Potentially dangerous effects Freitag said it was marked on the body.
What are the dangers of extreme heat?
Experts say heatstroke, which can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early, often begins with muscle spasms and convulsions. It can be followed by heat exhaustion or heat stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 1,220 people die from heat-related causes in the United States each year. In their heat safety guidelines, the Centers say all heatstroke and deaths are preventable.
Symptoms of heat stroke include profuse sweating and fatigue, weak pulse, cool, pale or clammy skin, headache, dizziness, nausea, and fainting. Move the person to an air-conditioned area and give them small amounts of water to drink. Loosen clothing and apply cool, damp cloths or a cool bath. If vomiting occurs, seek medical help.
A person with heat stroke may experience symptoms such as headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness and a temperature above 103 degrees Fahrenheit. They may also experience hot, red, dry or clammy skin, a fast pulse, and fainting or loss of consciousness. The CDC recommends calling 911 immediately and using cool cloths or a cool bath and moving the person to an air-conditioned area while waiting for help, but do not give them anything to drink.
National Institutes of Health-supported research published in 2023 Increase in deaths from heatstroke predicted From 2036 to 2065 due to rising temperatures.
“Climate change and its various manifestations will play an increasingly important role in the health of communities around the world in the coming decades,” lead study author Dr. Sameed Katana, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and a cardiologist at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said in a news release. “Climate change is also a health equity issue because it may disproportionately affect certain individuals and groups and exacerbate existing health disparities in the United States.”
young Children and ToddlersPregnant women, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable, as are those who are housebound or live alone. The NIH-supported study also noted that Black Americans may be at higher risk for death and illness from heatstroke.
How can you protect yourself from extreme heat?
Stay in an air-conditioned room, Limiting outdoor activities Experts warn that air conditioning helps during the heatwaves. If you don’t have air conditioning, see if your area will have cooling centers open. But even if you have air conditioning, you should plan for a power outage, said Freitag of the National Weather Service. Limit outdoor activity to the morning, or avoid going outside at all if possible, he said.
More tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
1. Drink plenty of water and take cool showers or baths.
2. Wear light, loose-fitting clothing and reduce use of stoves and ovens.
3. Check in with your friends and relatives, especially those without air conditioning.
Local communities can also prepare by setting up cooling centers in places like schools and libraries, and some have set up hotlines to send text messages to residents to ask for help.
In Franklin County, Ohio, the Department of Aging is distributing electric fans to residents age 60 and older, spokeswoman Christine Howard said.
And some businesses whose employees work outdoors are asking employees to start work earlier to avoid the hottest days.
“In this heat, outdoor activity should be limited to short periods early in the morning (preferably),” Freitag says, “but otherwise, physical outdoor activity should not occur during peak times of the day.”
