Heat wave relief expected for Northeast and mid-Atlantic, while southern regions remain vulnerable

Heat Wave Grips US as Heat-Related Deaths Increase

As the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States prepare for the end of an extreme heat wave that has plagued the area, the southern states are bracing themselves for a few more days of suffocating temperatures. Over 100 million people in more than 20 states are currently under heat alerts, but most of these alerts are expected to expire by Saturday night. Despite the expiration of alerts, temperatures are expected to remain dangerously high during the day, with some areas in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic experiencing their highest temperatures of the year so far. The excessive heat has already resulted in deaths in Arizona, Illinois, and Texas, and experts attribute these record high temperatures to human-induced climate change.

The National Weather Service warns that heat indexes, which take into account relative humidity and measure what the temperature feels like on the skin, are expected to reach around 100 to 110 degrees in parts of the Midwest, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast on Saturday. However, relief is on the horizon for the East Coast as a cold front is expected to progress through the mid-Atlantic on Sunday, bringing an end to the heat wave. Meanwhile, the Southwest will continue to experience the heat wave for several more days, with Phoenix potentially seeing a break from highs above 110 degrees on Sunday. Las Vegas is also expected to endure temperatures exceeding 100 degrees into early next week. Another heat wave is anticipated to develop in the South and Gulf Coast early next week.

The impact of the heat wave on communities across the country has been devastating. In Illinois, a 53-year-old woman died due to excessive heat in her apartment, which did not have air conditioning because the power had been disconnected. In Texas, a 66-year-old woman passed away from extreme heat after being taken to a hospital from her apartment. Arizona’s Maricopa County has taken precautions by adding 10 refrigerated containers to handle a possible overflow of heat-related deaths. Although the containers have not been needed yet, the county’s medical examiner’s office is already over capacity. The county has reported 25 heat-associated deaths so far this year, with additional deaths under investigation for potential links to heat.

Various cities and regions across the country are under heat alerts, including Washington, DC, parts of Maryland and Virginia, St. Louis, Kansas City, Philadelphia, New York City, and Newark. The extreme heat has also taken a toll on animals, with 21 dogs being rescued from a Lawrenceburg home in Tennessee due to unfit living conditions. Additionally, some cactuses at a Phoenix botanical garden have died from soaring temperatures, and emergency room visits for extreme heat burns have been reported in Arizona.

As the heat wave continues to affect millions of people across the United States, it serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change and take measures to mitigate its impact on both human and animal lives. With experts predicting that July will be the hottest month on record, it is crucial that individuals, communities, and governments take action to combat the effects of climate change and protect vulnerable populations from the dangers of extreme heat.

Original Story at www.cnn.com – 2023-07-29 12:42:00