Extreme heat wave to push temperatures beyond 100 degrees.
Fiery Heatwave Bakes Eastern US: Record-Breaking Temperatures Ahead
Y'all better watch out! A scorching heatwave is about to hit the eastern half of the States, starting this weekend. Be prepared for dangerously high temperatures next week, with millions of people across the Midwest to the East Coast feeling the heat.
Gotta love that July-like heat from earlier in the week? Well, brace yourselves, 'cause it's gonna get even hotter starting on Sunday! Tens of millions of people will be dealing with a level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk, in accordance with the National Weather Service, from Sunday through at least Thursday.
Get ready for the mercury to soar, reaching at least 15 degrees above normal next week across the Plains, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast. Add some humidity into the mix, and it'll feel like 110°F, especially in the Mid-Atlantic.
The great heat wave first hits the central US on Friday, with Denver forecasted to smash a record 100°F. Chicago's gonna be next on the list, reaching highs of around 95°F from Saturday to Sunday.
The heat will intensify in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic early next week. New York City is expected to reach 97°F from Sunday through Tuesday, with a chance to set daily records. Washington, D.C. could reach 100°F on both days, shattering records. Boston might hit around 90°F on Monday and 94°F on Tuesday, just shy of daily records set in the mid-90s.
Over 250 daily temperature records could be broken on Monday and Tuesday at sites with data going back to the early 1900s. That's right, y'all, this heatwave is a doozy!
Heatwave-related deaths have been on the rise in the States, according to a 2023 study, with an average of 800 deaths annually since 1999. And those living in summer-acclimated areas might still face severe health impacts when faced with extreme heat. So keep an eye on those "major" and "extreme" risk days, and pay attention when high humidity and warm nights prevent your body from cooling. Nighttime temperatures are warming faster due to climate change, making it harder for us to rebound from the heat.
Everyone's favorite time of the year is upon us, and the hottest weeks still lie ahead. The summer solstice occurs on Friday, officially tipping the Northern Hemisphere closest to the sun. This news means higher sun angles, longer days, and more solar energy available to fuel the extreme heat. But remember, meteorologists mark the beginning of summer on June 1, using calendar months to match seasonal weather patterns more accurately.
This early-season heat wave is probably just a warm-up for what's to come, but it's expected to subside by the end of next week.
A side view of melting sea ice in the Arctic Ocean close to the coast of Svalbard, Norway, during a late April 2023 thaw. The future forecasts a grim picture of extreme weather and deadly heat events. Our weather specialist, Mary Gilbert, contributed to this piece.
Groundbreaking news: Climate change continues to pose a significant threat, as shown by the current extreme heatwave scorching the eastern US. This situation, coupled with the melting sea ice in the Arctic, emphasizes the need for more studies in environmental science, especially focusing on climate-change mitigation and its impact on weather patterns.
