The National Weather Service announced on the morning of June 29 that a long and dangerous heat wave will intensify across much of the central and eastern United States this week.
NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center said several all-time high temperature records could be set later this week as part of this wave.
A total of about 90 million Americans live in areas under heat watches or heat warnings, according to the National Weather Service. Additionally, tens of millions more people are under slightly less stringent “heat advisories.”
In fact, at the peak of the heat wave later this week, “at least 230 million people, nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population, could be exposed to extreme heat that can cause health problems,” Weather.com reported.
“A heat dome will develop, strengthen, and increase in size over much of the central United States for an extended period of time through the Fourth of July weekend,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski said in an online forecast. “It will spread into parts of the east over the next few days. Once fully extended, the hazardous situation will affect more than 20 states.”
If you can’t see the graphic, click here to view it.
How hot will it get?
According to the National Weather Service, high temperatures in the 90s to low 100s and high humidity will lead to heat indexes in the 100s to 110s, reaching 115 degrees in some areas.
Temperatures that dip into the 70s provide little to no overnight relief.
“The combination of prolonged daytime heating and limited nighttime relief will increase the risk of heat-related illness, especially for vulnerable populations and those without adequate cooling,” the Weather Prediction Center said in an online forecast.
“If you’re concerned about the heat, you’re going to be very uncomfortable without air conditioning,” AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Duffus said.
What is a heat dome?
Heat domes, also known as high-pressure ridges or death ridges, are large bulges of submerged warm air that can extend up to 1,000 miles in the summer, raising temperatures as much as 30 degrees above average, creating dangerously dry conditions and often leading to deadly multi-day heat waves, Weather.com said.
According to climatecheck.com, the term refers to an “oppressive” high-pressure atmospheric system in which warm air is forced to the surface and trapped there for long periods of time.
“The dome is like a pot lid, trapping high-pressure air in one place,” the website says.
How long will the heat wave last?
According to Weather.com, the latest forecasts suggest the heat dome that causes the heatwave will continue, keeping much of the country hot through Independence Day and beyond.
The Weather Prediction Center said high temperatures may finally begin to weaken from west to east this weekend, with upper temperature limits likely to be limited by clouds and thunderstorms.
Tips for staying cool
- drink water, No matter how active you are, more than usual. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty. Give your pet plenty to drink.
- Avoid foods containing sugar, alcohol, and caffeine liquid. Fluid loss may increase.
- Stay in an air-conditioned building As much as possible.
- Take a cold shower or bath.
- limit outdoor activities; Especially during the day.
- Use curtains or shades Near the window to avoid sunlight.
- Limit the use of ovens and stoves To keep the temperature inside the house low.
- Please wear light-colored, loose-fitting clothing To improve sweat evaporation.
What else can I do?
- check on happiness Friends and neighbors – need help staying cool?
- Never leave people or pets unattended Even when the car is closed or the windows are partially open. The interior can quickly reach dangerous temperatures.
- Seek medical attention immediately For those with symptoms of heat stroke.
Doyle Rice is a national correspondent for USA TODAY, focusing on weather and climate.
