Extreme heatwave sweeps across the U.S.: Over 130 million under heat warnings
The United States is experiencing one of the most intense heatwaves in recent memory. From South Dakota to Florida, more than 130 million people are under extreme heat warnings this week, as heat index values, or "feels like" temperatures, rise well above 110°F in many areas. Even nights will not provide much relief.
The National Weather Service warns of an increased risk of heat-related illnesses and wildfires in the West.
As of July 28, the National Weather Service classified over 18 million Americans as having a level 4 (extreme) heat risk, the highest on the scale. Cities across the Southeast, including Charlotte, Orlando, Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Raleigh, are bracing for "feels like" temperatures of 108°F to 116°F for several days, as per a report by the Guardian.
ALSO READ: Deion Sanders and Karrueche Tran spark romance rumors after emotional hospital visit
The heat persists even at night. Overnight lows will remain in the 70s, denying the body an opportunity to cool and recover. According to health experts, this raises the risk of heat exhaustion and stroke, particularly in people who do not have access to air conditioning.
The NWS warns that prolonged exposure to these conditions without hydration or cooling is "dangerous for anyone," particularly the elderly, outdoor workers, children, and pets.There is some positive news on the horizon. By late this week, a strong cold front is expected to sweep through the eastern United States, bringing cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Forecast models show daytime highs dropping by up to 10-20 degrees in some areas, providing welcome relief by the weekend.However, until that happens, officials advise Americans to stay indoors during peak afternoon hours, avoid strenuous activity, and keep an eye on vulnerable neighbors."Drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun, and wear light clothing," according to the National Weather Service. "Limit outdoor work to early morning or evening hours."
ALSO READ: Rare Derecho threat looms over South Dakota as historic windstorms return
While the East bakes in a humid heat dome, the Western United States faces a different but equally dangerous threat: wildfire. Red flag warnings are in effect in parts of Colorado and Utah, where humidity is dropping to 8% and wind gusts are expected to exceed 30 mph.
The dry air and strong winds create ideal wildfire conditions, and forecasters are particularly concerned about dry lightning storms. These are thunderstorms that produce lightning but little to no rain, the ideal storm for starting fires that spread quickly, as per a report by the Guardian. "Lightning strikes could start wildfires, and without rain, there's nothing to put out the flames," AccuWeather meteorologists warned.
Whether it's scorching heat in the East or growing wildfire threats in the West, much of the country is in climate crisis mode this week. Authorities urge everyone to stay informed, calm, and take the threat seriously. Extreme weather affects all people, not just the most vulnerable.
How long will the United States' heatwave last?Extreme heat is expected to last until Wednesday, with a cold front providing some relief by the weekend.
Which states have the highest risk? North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are classified as level 4, the most severe heat risk category.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India Today
4 hours ago
- India Today
US East Coast braces for Hurricane Erin with evacuations and beach closures
Hurricane Erin moved slowly toward the eastern United States on Tuesday, creating hazardous waves along the shoreline. Lifeguards have already carried out dozens of expect the centre of the storm to remain offshore, but the outer bands are expected to generate tropical-force winds, rough surf, and life-threatening conditions along the East Coast from Florida to New National Weather Service has issued rip current advisories for a large stretch of the coast, with North Carolina's Outer Banks facing the greatest risk. As reported by the Associated Press, authorities ordered mandatory evacuations for parts of the Outer Banks, including Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands. More than 1,800 visitors and residents have already left Ocracoke. Bulldozers cleared sand dunes, and pier owners removed planks to reduce potential business owners are divided about leaving. 'Some people are evacuating while others are staying put,' said Tommy Hutcherson, who owns a store in New Jersey, some towns closed beaches, while Massachusetts' Nantucket Island is expected to see waves topping 10 feet later this week. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged people to stay cautious, reminding them to enjoy the weather but keep out of the of Tuesday, Erin had weakened slightly to a Category 2 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 105 mph (170 kph), according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. It was located about 650 miles southwest of Bermuda. Meteorologists expect the system to grow in size as it tracks east across the Atlantic before turning has already battered parts of the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos, where government services were suspended and residents were told to remain say Atlantic hurricanes are more likely to intensify quickly with rising ocean temperatures.- EndsWith inputs from Associated Press
Hindustan Times
5 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Hurricane Erin brings dangerous rip currents to East Coast beaches, dozens rescued
Hurricane Erin may be spinning hundreds of miles offshore, but its impact is being felt hard along the East Coast. Dozens of swimmers had to be rescued from rip currents over the weekend, forcing local officials to clamp down on beach access. In North Carolina, Wrightsville Beach lifeguards pulled about 60 people from the water, according to the Wilmington Star-News. Hurricane Erin is fueling powerful rip currents along the East Coast.(X/@MyDronePro) The number was so high that town leaders put a no-swim order in place through the rest of the week. South Carolina reported another rescue, while the National Weather Service in Charleston said a dozen rip currents were spotted at beaches stretching from South Carolina into Georgia on August 18. 'Rip currents can sweep even the best swimmers away from shore into deeper water,' the Charleston office warned in a bulletin on August 19. Warnings stretch from Florida to New England Mike Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center, said the conditions can fool people. Skies look clear, waves may look inviting, but the danger lurks under the surface. 'Weather conditions might look ideal for a beach trip, but dangerous rip currents can be hard to spot,' he explained. AccuWeather's lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva put it more bluntly. 'The force of the rip currents and rough surf along the Atlantic coast this week is life-threatening. Hurricane Erin is producing a tremendous amount of energy that will create hazardous beach conditions from Florida to New England,' reports USA Today. Also read: Hurricane Erin path tracker: Category 4 Hurricane to bring life-threatening surf, rip current to US east coast Some beaches aren't taking chances. In Atlantic City, New Jersey, swimmers have been limited to knee-deep water, and boogie boards are off-limits. Farther north, beaches in Massachusetts have been shut entirely. What to know before you go into the surf? Rip currents are fast, narrow channels of water that surge away from the shore. They do not drag swimmers under, but can pull them into deeper ocean waters in seconds. Since 2010, more than 800 people have died in rip current drownings, NOAA data shows. This year alone, at least 52 people have died from surf zone dangers, nearly half tied directly to rip currents. Experts say the key is to stay calm if you are caught. Don't fight the current head-on. Instead, swim parallel to the beach until you have cleared it, then angle back toward shore. If you see someone else struggling, don't jump in. Get a lifeguard or throw something that floats. If no lifeguard is present, call 911. Officials stress the simplest move of all: check the warnings before you head to the beach, and always swim near a lifeguard. FAQs: Where have rip current rescues occurred? Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina saw about 60 rescues, with others in South Carolina and Georgia. Why are rip currents so dangerous? They move quickly away from shore and can exhaust swimmers trying to fight them. How many people die in rip currents each year? Since 2010, more than 800 people in the U.S. have died from rip current drownings. What should you do if caught in one? Swim parallel to the shore until free of the current, then head back at an angle. When will Hurricane Erin reach land? Erin remains hundreds of miles offshore but is already creating dangerous surf along the U.S. coast.
NDTV
11 hours ago
- NDTV
Atlantic Hurricane Season Sets Peak Record As Storm Erin Threatens US Coast
United States: Hurricane Erin 's massive footprint battered Caribbean islands with heavy gusts and downpours on Monday, as it threatened rip currents and flooding along the US East Coast later this week, even without a predicted landfall. The Category 3 storm strengthened dramatically over the weekend in a historic burst of intensification, scientists said was fueled by human-caused climate change. It briefly peaked as a Category 5 hurricane before weakening. In its latest advisory, the US National Hurricane Center said the Atlantic season's first hurricane was packing maximum sustained winds of 125 miles (205 kilometers) per hour while moving northwest at 8 mph. Erin is "unusually large," with hurricane force winds extending 80 miles from the center and tropical storm winds extending 230 miles, the NHC said. The storm's outer bands were forecast to dump rain across Cuba and the Dominican Republic through Monday, as well as the Turks and Caicos and the southeast Bahamas -- where a tropical storm warning is in place -- into Tuesday. These regions could receive localized totals of up to four inches (10 centimeters) of rain, according to the NHC. The agency's deputy director, Jamie Rhome, warned Americans not to assume the hurricane won't impact them simply because its track keeps it offshore. "Nothing could be further from the truth for portions of the Mid-Atlantic, especially the Outer Banks of North Carolina," he said. On Wednesday and Thursday, waves of up to 20 feet (six meters), coastal flooding and storm surge "could overwash dunes and flood homes, flood roads and make some communities impassable," he said. Evacuations have been ordered for two North Carolina islands, Ocracoke and Hatteras. From Tuesday, much of the East Coast will face a high risk of life-threatening surf and rip currents, which occur when channels of water surge away from the shore. In Puerto Rico, a US territory of more than three million people, weekend flooding swamped homes and roads in the island's east, and widespread power outages left residents in the dark, though nearly all service has since been restored. Climate link "Erin is one of the fastest, most intensifying storms in the modern record," Daniel Gilford, a climate scientist at the nonprofit Climate Central, told AFP. "We see that it has intensified over these warm surface temperatures -- and this makes a lot of sense, because we know that hurricanes act like heat engines taking up energy from the ocean surface, converting that energy into winds." According to Climate Central, Erin traveled over waters whose extreme warmth was made up to 100 times more likely through climate change. The Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30, has now entered its historical peak. Despite a relatively quiet start with just four named storms so far, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) continues to forecast an "above-normal" season. A typical season produces 14 named storms, of which seven become hurricanes and three strengthen into major hurricanes. This year, tropical activity is expected to be elevated by a combination of warmer-than-average sea-surface temperatures in the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean, along with an active West African monsoon, NOAA said. Scientists broadly agree that climate change is supercharging tropical cyclones: warmer oceans fuel stronger winds, a warmer atmosphere intensifies rainfall, and higher sea levels magnify storm surge. Climate change may also be making hurricanes more frequent.
