Extreme Heat Dome Grips Eastern US, Shattering Records and Threatening Lives
Extreme Heat Dome Grips Eastern US, Shattering Records and Threatening Lives
A brutal heat dome is engulfing the eastern United States, bringing with it the hottest temperatures of the year so far and posing a significant threat to public health. Tens of millions of people from the Midwest to the East Coast are under a level 4 of 4 extreme heat risk, a designation the National Weather Service warns affects anyone without effective cooling and adequate hydration.
Temperatures are expected to soar at least 15 degrees above normal, reaching well into the 90s and feeling as hot as 110 degrees with humidity, particularly in the mid-Atlantic region. Major cities are bracing for record-breaking heat: New York City anticipates highs around 97 degrees through Tuesday, while Washington, D.C., could hit 100 degrees, potentially breaking records. Boston is also expected to experience near-record highs.
The impact is potentially devastating. Over 250 daily temperature records could be broken on Monday and Tuesday, highlighting the severity of this heat wave. Heat is the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US, causing over 800 deaths annually on average. This extreme heat, particularly with warm nights preventing the body from cooling, drastically increases the risk of heat-related illness and death, leading to surges in emergency room visits.
This intense heat wave arrives just after the summer solstice, coinciding with the longest days and highest sun angles of the year. While meteorologists consider June 1st the start of summer, this early-season heat is a stark warning of what could lie ahead, with the hottest weeks typically occurring in July and August. The heat is expected to ease by the end of the week, but this event serves as a troubling preview of the extreme weather and deadly heat predicted for the coming months.
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