A heat wave sweeping across much of the United States has prompted several officials to declare heat emergencies and ask residents to cut energy use to protect the power grid.
An unrelenting US heat wave that has triggered health alerts for more than 100 million people is set to intensify this weekend, with temperatures and humidity forecast to rise to sweltering levels in many parts of the country.
The devastating heat, which has also affected Europe and caused hundreds of deaths there, highlights the direct threat. climate change raises even the richest countries on the planet.
“So far this week, 60 daily high temperature records have been tied/broken as dangerous heat engulfed much of the nation,” the National Weather Service (NWS) said in a tweet. Thursday morning.
“More records are likely to be set over the next week,” he added.
Temperatures across much of the southwestern United States have soared above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius), topping 110 degrees in some areas. Similar levels were recorded across the southern US, where humidity added to the discomfort.
The NWS tweeted Tuesday that 100 million people were under heat-related warnings and advisories, and said Thursday that a “significant portion of the population” would remain under such advisories through the weekend.
High temperatures were already expected to rise further this weekend on the East Coast of the United States, where high humidity could push “look-alike” temperatures well above 100 degrees.
Washington and Philadelphia have declared heat emergencies and warned their residents to remain vigilant.
“Stay hydrated, limit sun exposure and check on seniors, neighbors and pets,” Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser said on Twitter.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health warned in a statement that “during hot weather, NEVER leave children and pets unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”
more heat to come
While the oppressive heat is expected to ease across the southern and eastern US next week, a high-pressure system over the Pacific Northwest is expected to push temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above average. normal levels.
Temperatures have also soared in Europe, setting a new all-time high in Britain, where the National Metereological Service it recorded 104.5 degrees in the east of England, surpassing the previous high set in 2019.
Unlike much of Western Europe, most homes in the United States have air-conditioninghelping to mitigate heat wavehealth risks, but adding stress to the electrical network in times of high use.
In Texas, residents were asked last week to reduce their energy use by not using large appliances from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., as the southern state’s electric utility company warned that low wind speeds threatened the reliability of the network.
New York City on Thursday asked residents to use less energy by turning their air conditioners up to 78 degrees and unplugging appliances.
Scientists have warned that heat waves like the ones being felt in the United States and Europe will become more frequent and will increase in intensity due to global warming.
Although he campaigned on an agenda of strong action against climate change, US President Joe Biden’s larger plans have been blocked by the Supreme Court and lawmakers, including from his own Democratic party.
Biden announced in a speech Wednesday that his administration would redouble efforts to tackle global warming, but stopped short of declaring a formal climate emergency, which would give him additional political powers.
© 2022 AFP
Citation: Record temperatures set in US as heat wave engulfs the nation (July 22, 2022) Retrieved July 24, 2022 at https://phys.org/news/2022-07-temperatures -engulfs-nation.html
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