The heat wave plaguing large swaths of the southern United States in areas that have been sweltering for weeks is expected to continue — and to spread further across the central United States over the next few days and even weeks.
“A dangerous, long-lasting, record-breaking heat wave will continue over the Southwest through the end of this week, especially in the low desert areas, with temperatures also rising into the triple digits extending north into the Central Great Basin this weekend,” the National Weather Service said. . Forecaster Mossi Kebede said.
In addition to the southwest heat, “oppressive heat and humidity are expected to create widespread heat indexes of 105 to 110 degrees across the Central South, Southeast and Gulf Coast through early this weekend,” he added.
More than 75 million Americans were under extreme heat warnings, heat warnings and extreme heat hours as the weekend began on Saturday.
Heat has already been blamed for at least 18 confirmed deaths in the Phoenix metro area, with another 69 deaths suspected to be heat-related as of July 15. Gov. Katie Hobbs asked the state's utility companies in a letter on Friday to submit plans for higher temperatures. Prevent and respond to outages and meet to discuss the state's energy infrastructure in future heat waves.
“As this devastating heat wave continues, the risk of heat-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries will increase,” Hobbs said in the letter.
Phoenix hit 23 straight days of temperatures at 110 or higher The National Weather Service there said the temperature on Saturday was on track to exceed 115 degrees for the sixth day in a row. If it breaks 115, it will tie the record for the longest period of days with those highs in temperature.
Temperature in Arizona:The Ajo Border Patrol is detaining migrants in an outdoor chain-link cage during record temperatures
Forecast for next week: More 'excessive heat'
Extreme heat in the Southwest is expected to continue until at least July 28, with some moderation after that, the weather service said.
While the heat has been steady in the Desert Southwest over the past few weeks, the Rockies and most of the Plains have avoided extended periods of extreme heat this summer, AccuWeather meteorologists said. But that will change in the coming days.
In fact, hot summer conditions are looking to expand across much of the rest of the Lower 48 starting in the middle of next week, the weather service forecasts. Many locations within the Midwest could reach their hottest temperatures of the year.
Extreme heat is also expected to spread to the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic by the end of next week, according to the Climate Prediction Center's forecast map.
Meteorologists from Weather.com warned that 90-degree heat could rise to the Northeast later next week as well.
What about August?
Overall, little sustained easing of heat is expected over the next few weeks, as the heat dome, driven by strong high pressure, continues to show strength through at least the first part of August, according to Bill Deger, AccuWeather's chief meteorologist. .
According to the Climate Prediction Center's latest extended forecast, most of the Plains from the Missouri Valley to Texas will likely see above-average heat through the rest of July and into the first few days of August.
Furthermore, much of the country is expected to experience a hotter-than-average August, the climate center said: “Higher-than-normal temperatures are widely favored over most of the contiguous United States.”
Only a small portion of the upper Midwest is expected to see a colder than average August.
Take the heat seriously
The weather service said on Friday that it was taking the heat seriously, noting that the heat would continue to reach levels that could pose a health risk to many people. Some suggestions and warnings:
- Avoid extended time outdoors.
- Heat can be fatal to anyone without effective cooling and adequate hydration.
- Nighttime temperatures will provide little relief.
- Heat is the leading weather-related killer in the United States
