Extreme Heat Has You in Its Crosshairs

The National Weather Service reports that approximately 200 million people in the United States, which accounts for 60% of the population, are currently under a heat advisory or flood warning or watch. This alarming situation has been in effect since Thursday. Extreme temperatures are expected to affect the eastern half of the country on Friday, with the heat spreading from the Midwest to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. Some areas will experience their highest temperatures of the year. Moreover, despite the usual cooling during summer nights, forecasters predict higher-than-normal night temperatures, leading to excessive heat warnings from the Plains to the East Coast. On Thursday to Friday alone, the number of people under a heat advisory increased from 180 million to 184 million, while the number of people under a flood warning or watch decreased from 17 million to 10 million.

Although the southernmost counties of California and parts of southern Arizona have been slightly relieved by moisture moving into the Southwest, excessive heat warnings still remain for much of the region. Additionally, severe thunderstorms are expected in parts of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, extending west to the Middle Missouri Valley until Saturday morning. This continuous wave of extreme heat coincides with the announcement from the World Meteorological Organization and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service that July 2023 has been recorded as the hottest month on record. Scientists have long warned about the consequences of climate change, which is driven by activities such as the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation, and certain agricultural practices. They predict more frequent and prolonged periods of extreme weather as a result.

On Thursday, major cities along the East Coast, including Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, DC, experienced “real feel” temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Friday is expected to break several temperature records, with temperatures projected to be 10 to 15 degrees above average. In the Southwest and southern Plains, oppressive temperatures have persisted for weeks. A New Mexico-based meteorologist described the prolonged period of temperatures over 100 degrees as unprecedented. “They probably aren’t going to have a lot of sympathy for the rest of the country,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center. As a result of the extreme heat, some of the country’s major power grids and utilities are under strain, potentially affecting people’s ability to cool off.

In New York City, Con Edison, the utility company, sent out a text message urging residents to use air conditioning sparingly in order to conserve electricity. Overloading an electrical grid can lead to blackouts, causing equipment failures and significant pollution when the equipment is restarted. PJM Interconnection, the largest power grid in the country, declared a level-one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, expressing concerns about their ability to provide sufficient electricity. “PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” stated spokesperson Jeffrey Shields on Thursday. The dangerous heat is expected to peak in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic, and Midwest regions on Friday and Saturday, with a relief expected from a cold front on Sunday and throughout the following week.