Why extreme summer heat is breaking records in US cities
What you need to know about extreme heat in the US and around the world this summer.
Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
This week, it will be the Midwest and Northeast's turn to deteriorate.
After punishing the western and southern US with record temperatures for the past month or so, intense summer heat will finally make its appearance across much of the Midwest and Northeast in the coming days.
“This week, the extent of heat across the United States will be the most widespread of the summer yet.” AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno he said.
Highs will soar into the 100s in some Midwestern cities and into the 90s in the Northeast, according to Weather.com.
In all, at least 45 states and more than 100 million Americans will endure temperatures of 90 degrees or higher at some point this week, AccuWeather said.
Record-breaking heat brings more triple-digit days
Late July is expected to be the hottest time of the summer for much of the country based on historical averages, according to AccuWeather. Temperatures are forecast to exceed average levels by six to 12 degrees, challenging some daily record highs in the Midwest and Northeast.
As the heat dome expands eastward, millions of people in the mid-Atlantic could face triple-digit temperatures not seen in years, AccuWeather said. Temperatures in Washington, DC and Baltimore are forecast to reach around 100 degrees by the end of the week.
“It hasn't hit 100 yet in either city this year,” said AccuWeather's senior meteorologist Bill Deger. “Actually, it's not even into the 90s in Washington.”
Meanwhile, the South West region has entered its third week of record heat. In Arizona, the Phoenix metropolitan area has seen temperatures exceed 110 degrees daily with Tuesday reaching 118 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings for weeks in the region, but extreme highs aren't the only problem. Record lows are also a challenge, meaning cold temperatures are warmer than usual.
In El Paso, Texas, the city endured a 40th straight day of heat. High temperatures reached 102 degrees Tuesday afternoon in the city.
“Heat is a real force multiplier”
With no end in sight, the heat has exacerbated medical emergencies, and the length of the heat wave matters more than how hot temperatures get, according to University of Arizona researcher Pope Moseley.
“Data from population studies in Sweden showed that for every day of heatwave, you have an 8-12% increase in overall mortality,” Moseley said in an ASU publication. “Heat is a real force multiplier of the diseases and chronic conditions we have.”
So far in 2023, there have been 18 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. However, 69 other deaths are also under investigation by officials which could potentially increase the number of heat-related deaths.
Arizona officials and advocates have also condemned conditions for farmers and immigrants amid the heat wave. The death of a farmer in Yuma on July 20 has renewed calls for regulations to protect workers from the heat.
Dario MendozaThe 26-year-old father of two young children died after collapsing at work from apparent heatstroke as temperatures hit a high of 116 degrees in Yuma.
Immigrants held over the weekend at Border Patrol Station Ajo had officials and advocates raising concerns about the conditions as temperatures remained in the triple digits. A few dozen migrants were seen basking in the sun in an outdoor cage on Saturday.
“The hottest weather of the summer”
“For people across much of the Northeast, later this week will bring the hottest weather of the summer so far.” Rhino said.
Highs will soar into the mid to upper 90s from New York to Washington, DC as the week draws to a close, Weather.com meteorologists Chris Dolce and Jonathan Erdman said. Hartford, Connecticut and Washington will come within a few points of their daily record highs on Friday.
New York City should reach or exceed 93 degrees on Thursday or Friday – the city's hottest temperature of the year – and could reach 90 degrees on Saturday, which would make it the first “official” wave heat of the year, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Hot heat in the Midwest
The Midwest will also see extreme heat this week. “A huge dome of high pressure has been the driving force behind the heat in the Southwest this summer, and that system will expand eastward this week,” Sosnowski said.
St. Louis will see highs of at least 100 Thursday and Friday. And Chicago will see its first heat wave of the summer with four days of 90 degrees or higher Tuesday through Friday.
Good news and bad news
There is some good news on the horizon for the Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic from Sunday and into next week as a push of cool, less humid Canadian air is forecast to spread across the regions. However, along with the cooler air will come smoke from wildfires in western Canada, AccuWeather said. This could cause more bouts of poor air quality in many cities.
The southwest continues to bake
The heat will continue this week in the southwest. Phoenix's record-breaking summer heat continued Monday as the city recorded its 25th consecutive day of temperatures of 110 degrees or higher, extending a national record among major U.S. cities.
The city has also had 15 consecutive days (through Monday) in which its low has not fallen below 90 degrees, including an all-time record high of 97 degrees last Wednesday. Weather.com mentionted.
Phoenix is forecast to see high temperatures of 110 degrees and above for the rest of the week. National Weather Service he said.
Extreme heat warnings will remain in effect across the desert southwest through Thursday, and heat advisories are in place for parts of the Great Plains and south Florida. the weather service said.
Contributed by: Kate Perez, Eli Wizevich, Daniel Gonzalez, Jose Ignacio Castaneda Perez and Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY Network
