Extreme Heatwaves Hit Parts of the U.S. with Record Smashing Temperatures
Cindy Pu
Nearly a dozen major cities in the United States have been hit with an unexpected June heatwave, breaking multiple records with highs of 90-to-100-degrees Fahrenheit heat.
Over the weekend, Americans in the Midwest were already experiencing dangerously extreme temperatures. By Saturday evening, the National Weather Service had reported that the heat index, what the conditions “feel like” when the measurements of the heat and humidity are combined, was already hitting over 100 degrees in cities like Chicago and Minneapolis.
On Monday, extreme heat warnings were issued across the Midwest and East Coast to millions of people in major cities including, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York City, Baltimore, Detroit, and Washington D.C. Several cities will or have already seen temperatures that either tie or break previous heat records from years before.
The cause of this heatwave could be climate change. Climate Scientists have studied heatwaves and say that climate change can make them last longer or make them more extreme at times.
People without cooling or hydration during this scorching heat are at the risk of dangers like severe sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and sunstroke. Cooling centers have opened across cities and towns experiencing this heat, providing a cool place for people who might not have cooling in their homes.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams urged residents to take precautions this week. “Our first heat wave of the summer is here, and it’s so important that New Yorkers across the five boroughs take care of themselves over the next few days,” the mayor posted on X. “That’s right SEVERAL DAYS of EXTREME heat.”
People working outdoors, children, and the elderly are at high risk of heat-related illnesses. Some people are having a hard time adjusting from the cool to almost cold, late-May temperatures to the mid-June burning heat. On the other hand, some others are completely unfazed, even enjoying the hot temperatures like a “warm hug”.
While some sections of the United States are experiencing severe storms like possible tornados, extreme winds, and the risk of flash floods, the rest of the country is ducking away from the boiling temperatures and trying to stay cool during these several long days of heat.
