Latest news with #HowardFrumkin
Mint
11 hours ago
- Climate
- Mint
‘Extremely dangerous heat' hits US, NWS issues magenta, red alerts as mercury crosses 100°F
United States is reeling under 'extremely dangerous heat' impacting nearly 160 million people. With mercury soaring and temperatures touching three digits, advisories have been issued in several cities to take measure to protect oneself from 'life-threatening' heatwave. Health warnings were issued as US' first significant heatwave set off over the weekend, reaching dangerously high temperatures in Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. As mercury soared and high humidity levels added to the heat, the heat index touched 110°F/43 degree Celsius on East Coast. Urging citizens to stay hydrated, take shelter in cooling centres or public libraries with air conditioning, wear light clothing and seek medical assistance in case of heatstroke, the health advisories warned about risks to life from heat exhaustion. 'An upper-level high over the Ohio Valley will be quasi-stationary through Wednesday and contribute to Extreme Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories across much of the eastern third of the country, affecting nearly 160 million people,' the National Weather Service (NWS) said in its press release dated June 24. It further warned that about high heat levels at night and stated, 'Light winds, sunny days, record-high daytime, and high overnight temperatures will create a lack of overnight cooling, significantly increasing the danger.' Warning against Heat-related illnesses, NWS said, 'This heat level can be dangerous to anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration, especially those engaging in lengthy outdoor activities.' Amid orange, red and magenta alerts, the weather agency advised residents to 'Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.' "There is a disconnect between the severity of heat waves as a public health risk and the public recognition of that risk," Reuters quoted Howard Frumkin, an expert in environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington, as saying. Amid expected spike in US electricity demand, electrical grid operators directed power plants to be ready to run at maximum force.
Reuters
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Reuters
'Oppressive' heat triggers health warnings across US East, Midwest
June 23 (Reuters) - Tens of millions of people sweltered across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest on Monday as record-high heat disrupted electricity supplies and train travel. Heat warnings, which began over the weekend and are set to continue through the week, were in effect across much of the United States. East Coast officials warned that, as the heat combines with humidity, many places could see conditions that "feel like" 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius). The National Weather Service warned that nighttime temperatures may not offer much respite from the "oppressive heat," with nighttime forecasts of temperatures in the 70s and possibly even the 80s for East Coast cities. Some East Coast trains were halted en route for safety precautions on Monday, and Amtrak said in a statement that its cars would operate at lower speeds due to heat restrictions. Amtrak heat restrictions kick in when temperatures are higher than 95F (35C). The company also reduces its train speeds when the tracks themselves reach 128F (54C). Health experts urged employers to adjust working hours for outdoor laborers, to ensure they had adequate breaks and opportunities for hydration, and to monitor for signs of heat stroke or exhaustion. "There is a disconnect between the severity of heat waves as a public health risk and the public recognition of that risk," said Howard Frumkin, an expert in environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington. Police departments said they were taking steps to protect officers who were stationed outdoors – urging them to stay hydrated, or to stay in the shade where possible, according to the departments in the North Carolina city of Raleigh and the national capital, Washington D.C. U.S. electrical grid operators directed power plants to be ready to run at maximum force, with electricity demand expected to spike as people run fans and air conditioners to stay cool. In New York City, temperatures for Tuesday were forecast to hit 97F (36C), which would break the city's previous heat record for the date - set more than a century ago, when the mercury hit 96F on June 23, 1888. Scientists have warned that such extremes are fast becoming the new normal – while also upending assumptions about which regions might be spared the worst of climate change. "A lot of people ask the question, 'where is it safe to be?' And the answer is probably – no place," Frumkin said. "We did not think the upper Midwest was going to be vulnerable to heat extremes." The heat was also being felt in Britain, while the Arctic state of Alaska registered its first ever heat advisory last week. Last month, China saw its temperatures soar. Of all the weather impacts linked to climate change, extreme heat poses the biggest threat to human life - more dangerous than even floods or hurricanes. Last year marked the world's warmest on record – and temperatures are set to continue climbing for the next few decades as climate-warming emissions also keep rising. "It's just getting hotter everywhere," said Este Geraghty, chief medical officer and health solutions director at Esri, where she uses data and mapping analysis to understand how and where climate risks are developing and help is needed most. Across England this week, the extreme heat could result in hundreds of deaths, according to a rapid analysis, opens new tab by a team of UK scientists. That forecast followed another report, opens new tab by the UK Met Office that found that extreme heat was now 10 times as likely to happen as it was decades ago. Extreme heat can take a heavy economic toll - threatening crop yields, livestock, electrical outages and wildfires, and leading to disruptions to utility services, healthcare, or transportation systems, according to a report, opens new tab this month on insurance risk by Swiss Re Institute. The global heat event this week "is sounding an alarm bell for society," said Nina Arquint, who works as CEO UK & Ireland at Swiss Re Corporate Solutions. "These events are more dangerous than natural catastrophes in terms of human lives lost, yet the true cost is only starting to come to light," Arquint said.
