Millions of people across the Midwest and Northeast are enduring extreme heat this week. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about a “dangerous and long” heat wave, with temperatures expected to reach triple digits in many areas, including upstate New York.
Cities like Rochester are forecasted to experience 104-degree weather on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Freeze Warning in Northern California
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Conversely, the Pacific Northwest is grappling with unseasonably cold weather. Early Monday morning, parts of southern Oregon and Northern California faced a freeze warning, with temperatures plunging to 19 degrees in some areas.
This severe weather continues from previous days.
Storm Damage
On Monday night, tens of thousands in the Pittsburgh area lost power due to storm damage, with about 25,000 still without electricity as of Tuesday morning, according to PowerOutage.us.
Additionally, developing storm systems in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic pose threats to South Texas and the eastern coast of Florida. This comes just days after severe flooding in South Florida led to a car crash that killed two people last week.
Heat Dome Expands
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Over 76 million Americans are expected to face intense heat over the coming days as a heat dome expands over the Great Lakes, Ohio Valley, and Northeast.
The National Weather Service predicts temperatures will reach the low 100s in numerous regions. The heat wave will persist through the week, affecting states like Illinois, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on Wednesday, before moving to New York and Maine by Thursday.
Emergency Room Visits
According to HeatRisk, a scale developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the highest levels of heat will impact northern Ohio and upstate New York in the coming days.
The New York Times reports that emergency room visits in these areas are likely to increase significantly.
Triple Digits Expected
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In Iowa, rising humidity is expected to push heat index values close to triple digits in the afternoons early this week. Cities such as St. Louis, Chicago, Philadelphia, and New York are projected to experience temperatures upwards of 105 degrees, according to the Weather Prediction Center.
Meanwhile, areas like El Paso, Texas, and Atlanta, which have opened cooling centers to provide relief, will see temperatures in the high 90s in the next few days. Rio Grande Village, Texas, reached 114 degrees this week, marking it as the hottest place in the U.S. on Monday, according to NBC News.
Cold Front Brings Heavy Snow
In the Intermountain West, a cold front is causing heavy snow along the northern Rockies in western Montana and central Idaho this week, as reported by Fox Weather.
The National Weather Service expects up to 12 inches of snow along the Rocky Mountain Front, although it will occur at elevations above 6,000 feet, thus not impacting major population centers, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Tom Kines.
Low Temperatures
This snowfall is expected to taper off by Wednesday.
Temperatures in western Montana are likely to drop to 40 degrees but should rebound to near 70 by midweek. Cities like Seattle and Portland, Oregon, will see highs in the mid-60s.
Flooding From Storms
A tropical storm in Southeast Texas is likely to cause significant flash, urban, and river flooding on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.
Another storm brewing off the east coast of Florida or southeast Georgia is expected to make landfall by late Wednesday into Thursday, as reported by Orlando’s Fox 35. Meteorologist Noah Bergren noted that if it does, it would be an “extremely rare” event, with only three storms historically making landfall from the east in June, the most recent being Tropical Storm Danny in 2021, which hit South Carolina.
Extreme Weather Globally
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The U.S. is not alone in facing extreme weather.
Brazil’s Pantanal region, the largest tropical wetland on Earth, has seen over 730 fires this month, a record high for June, surpassing the previous record of 435 fires in June 2005, according to the country’s National Institute of Space Research and CNN.
Extreme Heat
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Last week, extreme heat in Cyprus and Greece reached upwards of 110°F, prompting officials to temporarily close the Acropolis, shut down public schools, and limit other outdoor activities.
According to the Washington Post, two elderly people in Cyprus died from heatstroke, and three others are being treated for heatstroke symptoms in various hospitals.
Deaths Caused by Heat
In India, debilitating heat has led to unique insurance payouts to 50,000 women across 22 districts to help them cope with the economic impacts of extreme temperatures. Meanwhile, 14 Jordanian pilgrims died from exposure to extreme sun and heat while on a holy trip to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, according to Jordan’s Foreign Ministry. An additional 17 pilgrims are reported missing.
In southern and central Chile, heavy rains have reportedly killed one person, damaged over 2,000 homes, and forced around 150 people to evacuate, as reported by Sky News.
