Currently, around 200 million individuals in the United States, accounting for 60% of the population, are either under a heat advisory or a flood warning or watch. This situation has arisen due to the widespread occurrence of high temperatures and the anticipation of severe storms in new areas.
The National Weather Service has characterized this ongoing heatwave in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions as “dangerous” and expects it to persist throughout the weekend.
Parts of the Northeast, South, New England, and South Florida may experience severe thunderstorms and flash floods. Meanwhile, the Southwest and Midwest regions will continue to face record-breaking temperatures.
Bob Oravec, the lead forecaster of the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center, has expressed concerns about the impact on major cities, stating, “It’s impacting all the big cities, which is why the number of people affected is so high.”
This prediction of excessive heat follows the declaration by the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service that July 2023 was the hottest month on record.
On Thursday, major cities along the East Coast, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City, experienced real feel temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 degrees Celsius). Friday may witness the breaking of several temperature records, with temperatures expected to be 10 to 15 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 8 degrees Celsius) above average.
In New England, communities are preparing for the simultaneous threats of extreme heat and flash floods.
According to Oravec, “You could face intense heat for a significant part of the day and then encounter a strong thunderstorm that brings heavy rainfall and potential flooding.”
The Southwest and southern Plains regions continue to endure sweltering heat, with temperatures surpassing 100 degrees (37.8 C) persisting for weeks. A meteorologist from New Mexico described this prolonged period of extreme temperatures as unprecedented.
Oravec remarked, “They probably aren’t going to show much sympathy for the rest of the country.”
The extreme heat has put significant strain on two of the largest power grids in the nation, potentially affecting people’s ability to cool off.
PJM Interconnection, the country’s largest power grid covering 13 states, declared a level one energy emergency alert on Wednesday due to concerns over electricity supply.
The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which serves the Midwest and Northern Plains, also issued a similar alert on Thursday.
In Southern California, the California Independent System Operator issued an energy emergency alert on Wednesday, primarily due to excessive heat. However, the alert expired the same day, and they expect to meet the demand in the following days.
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, responsible for most of Texas, anticipates that their grid will operate normally despite the extreme weather.
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