More than 55 million people living in the region stretching from southern Arizona to the coast of Florida will have to endure oppressive heat under an increasingly severe heatwave.
Excessive heat warnings, reaching the highest alert level, have been issued for cities such as Dallas, New Orleans, and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, with temperatures expected to soar up to 48 degrees Celsius.
According to CNN, the scorching temperatures in the southern United States are attributed to a phenomenon known as “heat dome.” A heat dome occurs when a persistent high-pressure system forms over a specific area and does not move for a week or more. The high pressure leads to clear skies and sunny weather, causing the air to sink. As the air descends, it warms up, leading to a rise in temperature. This is a dangerously uncomfortable weather phenomenon.
Thermometer displaying 114°F (45.5°C) in Baker, California, USA. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN).
The National Weather Service’s Weather Forecast Center indicates that temperatures from Arizona through New Mexico into Texas will maintain around 37.7 degrees Celsius on June 27 and will spread northward to the Missouri Valley by June 28.
The Weather Forecast Center warns: “There may be more hazards than a typical heatwave due to the elevated heat index.”
Additionally, the center stated that the dangerous impacts of the upcoming heatwave will be unusually warm nighttime temperatures, which will hardly provide any relief. In many areas such as Dallas, New Orleans, and Shreveport, nighttime temperatures are expected to remain above 26 degrees Celsius. The heatwave is anticipated to worsen and show no signs of relief before early next week.
Due to climate change, heat domes are expected to make breaking temperature records more frequent. From Texas to Missouri to Florida, over 90 high-temperature records are expected to be broken this week.
“Extreme temperatures and humidity will significantly increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for those working or engaging in outdoor activities,” the National Weather Service warned on June 26.
Currently, the extreme heat in Texas has resulted in at least two fatalities in Big Bend National Park on June 23. At that time, temperatures reached 48.3 degrees Celsius, and the heatwave had persisted for more than two weeks.
City officials reported that high temperatures in Austin, Texas, have overwhelmed emergency services. Wesley Hopkins, Assistant Director of Emergency Services in Austin, stated that the department has recorded a rise in heat-related emergency calls, with 118 service requests in just the past two weeks.
The Texas Health Services Agency has urged residents to take precautions to protect themselves from heat exhaustion and heatstroke.
“Stay cool, drink plenty of water, wear lightweight clothing, and limit strenuous outdoor activities,” the agency added that the elderly, children, those with chronic illnesses, and people without air conditioning are the most vulnerable to extreme heat.
The recent intensified heatwave has also set record temperatures in Texas. Daily temperatures in San Angelo reached a record high of 45 degrees Celsius on June 26, while Del Rio also recorded a record-high temperature of 44 degrees Celsius.
According to the National Weather Service, June 26 marked the ninth consecutive day that Del Rio set a new daily high-temperature record. Even as the heat spreads to neighboring states, dangerous heat is predicted to continue across central Texas this week.
