Americans face elevated risks of extreme heat this year, with certain regions being particularly susceptible. Identify these areas for potential precautions and preparation against the heatwave.
The National Weather Service (NWS) and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have jointly issued a national forecast, warning of heat-related risks across the United States. As the planet warms, the number of heat waves has increased, becoming more intense and lasting longer.
To help predict and communicate these risks, the NWS uses a variety of tools. One such tool is the Heat Index, which combines actual air temperature and relative humidity to measure how hot it really feels. For example, an air temperature of 96°F with 65% humidity feels like 121°F. The NWS sets alert thresholds when the Heat Index is forecast to exceed 105°-110°F for at least two consecutive days.
Another tool is the experimental HeatRisk Display, which forecasts the risk of heat-related impacts over a 24-hour period. It categorizes risk levels from Green (little to no risk) up to Magenta (extreme risk), considering factors like duration, temperature, humidity, and their potential impacts on human health, industries, and infrastructure.
The NWS also monitors large-scale weather patterns such as persistent high-pressure systems that trap heat and cause heat waves, producing combinations of high temperatures and humidity that drive dangerous Heat Index values.
To help prepare populations for these conditions, the NWS issues forecasts and real-time alerts showing daily high temperatures, departures from average temperatures, heat advisories, and warnings. These forecasts help people prepare for record-breaking temperatures and heat waves, emphasizing safety measures like effective cooling and hydration.
The NWS also produces multi-day apparent temperature forecasts, which take into account wind and humidity to explain what it "feels like" outside. An updated map shows the multi-day apparent temperature forecast across the contiguous United States for the next three days.
Darker shades on these maps represent areas where the average temperature has an increased chance of being warmer or cooler than usual. Gray areas are expected to be near normal. The NWS also predicts average temperatures across regions of the country over the coming weeks.
CNN provides a search tool for these "feels like" temperature predictions in more than 800 US cities with a population greater than 50,000 residents. The NWS also predicts potential record-breaking temperatures by location across the country each day.
It's important to note that high temperatures in the summer can cause spikes in emergency room visits and hundreds of heat-related deaths across the United States. The heat-related risk forecast considers the impact on residents based on CDC data for past effects, such as deaths.
Overnight temperatures are warming faster than daytime temperatures, offering less relief from the heat. CNN is tracking extreme heat conditions and the potential risk for Americans each day. This week, high temperature records could be broken in [List of locations, if provided].
Stay tuned for updates on heat-related risks and take necessary precautions to stay safe during these hot summer days.
The National Weather Service (NWS) employs tools like the Heat Index and the experimental HeatRisk Display to anticipate and communicate heat-related risks, which are exacerbated by climate change. These tools consider air temperature, humidity, large-scale weather patterns, and their effects on human health, industries, and infrastructure. The NWS also provides forecasts of multi-day apparent temperatures, demonstrating the vanquishing need for cooling and hydration measures during heat waves.
