Heat alerts in the United States: half of the American population is affected

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“‘The heat is on’ for much of the Americas as sweltering temperatures stretch from sea to bright sea today and Thursday,” the Weather Prediction Center said early Wednesday.
Fifty million people are subject to excessive heat warnings, with major cities like New York, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Kansas City, Seattle and Portland, Oregon included in this higher-level alert. Such warnings are issued within 12 hours of the onset of extremely hazardous heat conditions: when the maximum heat index – or “like” temperature – will be 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more for at least two days and nighttime temperatures will not drop below 75.

“Parts of the I-95 corridor could reach 100 degrees Thursday afternoon with oppressive heat indices of between 105 and 110 degrees,” the prediction center said. The heat index takes into account humidity with temperature.

Wednesday afternoon’s highs will be 106 in New York, 107 in Washington, DC and even 98 in Boston. Actual temperatures in New York will be in the mid-90s and will not drop below 90 for a maximum until Saturday. Washington, DC, could hit 100 degrees Thursday and not see high temperatures drop below 90 until Sunday.

The heat waves are getting hotter because of the climate crisis. With 2 degrees Celsius of global warming, the hottest temperatures would reach nearly 3 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) higher than previous heat waves.

Pacific Northwest faces another heat wave

The Pacific Northwest is subject to heat warnings as temperatures rise up to 25 degrees above normal.

Across the west coast, the heat will increase, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Temperatures there will rise 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit above normal.

“Thursday’s temperatures will even defy some daily records in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest,” the forecast center said.

Seattle will be in the mid-90s on Thursday and Friday. Portland could even hit 100 degrees Thursday and Friday. This will create particularly dangerous conditions in this region, as many do not have air conditioning.
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It will be the second major heat wave the Pacific Northwest has experienced this summer. In June, all-time record temperatures plummeted as cities like Seattle soared to 108 degrees, while Portland topped 116 degrees. Hundreds of more emergency room visits for heat-related symptoms and deaths were reported during the period.

Seattle’s record for most consecutive days at 95 degrees or higher is four, and if this week’s forecast holds, it will hit five. In Seattle, climate records have been held since 1894, but when it comes to August, 15 of the 31 days in that month have a daily record that was set in the past 12 years (2009-2020).

Burning in the South and the Midwest

The Mississippi Valley will face temperatures in the upper 90s over the next few days, with heat indices of 110 in some places. Places like Chicago, Houston, Memphis and Little Rock, Arkansas, are all subject to a heat advisory.

Chicago will peak around 90 on Wednesday and Thursday, but will feel closer to 100. Houston will also be sweltering in heat and humidity, with the Heat Index putting temperatures at 110 for the next two days.

A number of record lows could also be broken in this region on Thursday morning.

Possible severe weather for millions

With the heat will come a chance for thunderstorms for parts of the Midwest. Another round of severe weather is forecast for Wednesday, with a Level 3 in 5 risk for Chicago and Milwaukee. A level 2 of 5 threat includes Detroit.

Destructive winds are the main threat, but several tornadoes are expected again on Wednesday. In the past two days, there have been 20 reports of tornadoes and over 250 reports of destructive winds.

About 500,000 customers remained without power in the Great Lakes region as of Wednesday morning, most in Michigan, where more than a quarter of a million were in the dark.

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