The heat waves are now affecting the entire country. With more than 40 million people feeling temperatures rise across Central California and parts of Plains, this Tuesday’s weather is no exception, with a ten to fifteen-degree increase above average recorded throughout many cities.
“Dangerous heat will continue to impact much of the central and parts of southwestern US today,” said the Weather Predication Center.
The states of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Dakotas, Nebraska, and Montana are all under extreme heat advisories. The National Weather Service has alerted many agencies to the excessive levels expected this week as temperatures will break records in these areas, beating former records by several degrees.
With heat indices potentially reaching 111 degrees in several parts of South Dakota, Oklahoma and Texas, citizens need to know how to handle extreme temperatures. The heat index is the total temperature felt by the body when one takes into account the humidity and the heat of the environment.
Experts say that the heat may reach 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit and even higher as the days pass.
The San Joaquin Valley is under excessive heat warnings after experts predict temperatures reaching 108 degrees.
With record high temperatures expected this week, an estimated 60 million people will feel the three-digit number in their area. That’s around 20% of the population.
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The heatwave will continue to affect the Southern Plains this week, and experts say it’s not just hot but also dry in many Kansas, Texas and Oklahoma areas.
July was a month of suffering for many people as they had to up their air conditioning systems to counter the extreme heat outside their homes.
Intense heat affecting states across the country
The high temperatures are causing power grids to strain, and some areas may experience blackouts. Electric bills have also increased because of these record-breaking conditions in several states like Texas.
The heat in Dallas is rising, with a record of 110 degrees at one point, breaking high temperatures since 1980. Meanwhile, evening temperatures aren’t going down any further than 80 degrees.
Triple-digit temperatures are expected throughout South Dakota, with an increase of 15 degrees above the normal range.
The heat in Rapid City has been intense, reaching up to 104 degrees. As a result, the National Weather Service advised citizens not to frequent outside, especially during periods when the temperature is expected to reach its peak.
In an announcement, the North Platte weather service office said, “With the heat, low relative humidity, and gusty southerly winds, critical fire weather conditions are likely this afternoon into the early evening hours.”
“There is also a threat for high based, dry thunderstorms which may produce lightning and gusty, erratic winds in the vicinity of thunderstorms,” the weather office added.
North Platte is also forecasted to have record-breaking temperatures this week. The recent heat will also affect several parts of Nebraska and Scottsbluff.
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Stay in touch with loved ones. Drink lots of fluids and stay hydrated for the duration. Monitor your family’s health and yours, especially if they are elderly or have respiratory issues like asthma, to avoid any complications. These are the advice from weather and health bureaus.
The heat in the Southwestern US has made it worse for those suffering from a lack of rain. Parts of California are currently at extreme levels or higher when considering drought, with San Joaquin Valley registering the highest level on the scale.
“The combination of breezy conditions, intense heat, plentiful sun, and dry vegetation will create a heightened threat for wildfires on Wednesday,” said a weather service.
With the heat continuing, there is a risk of wildfires and other disasters. The weather service in Ft. Worth warns citizens about potential events that could happen. Texas has currently banned fires across several areas to counter these risks.
