US heatwave: High temperatures combined with high humidity likely to affect millions of Americans by the end of July

More than 80 million Americans from the West to New England were either under hot warnings or advice as of Friday morning.

“Record-breaking temperatures are expected in the Northeast U.S. this weekend, with above-average (temperatures) continuing in the South Central U.S.,” says the Weather Forecast Center. Wrote Thursday.

The highest temperature recorded Thursday was in Death Valley, California, which hit 122 degrees Fahrenheit. preliminary data collected by the forecast center.

High values will rise to the 100s on Friday in parts of the forecast center Southwest, the Central Plains, and the Mississippi River Valley. aforementioned. Temperatures will also hit the mid-90s in parts of the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast on Friday.

But the oppressive humidity will strain the heat index – neither is the weather feels like — even higher in some of these regions during Friday and weekend. This includes possible heat index values of 105-110 degrees in St. Petersburg on Friday afternoon. Louis and Kansas City and similar numbers in the Northeast in two days, forecasters warned.

The city of Dallas recorded its first heat-related death of the year, a 66-year-old woman with underlying health conditions, County Health and Human Services said on Thursday.

In Arizona, officials in Maricopa County reported that at least 29 people have died from heat-related problems since March, with the majority outdoors. The county’s public health department said it compared it to 16 deaths reported in 2021 over the same period. Dozens of other deaths are also being investigated in the county for heat-related causes.

Dangerous temperatures have forced state and local leaders to issue heat emergencies and offer resources to vulnerable residents. Residents are begging to stay hydrated and stay outdoors as much as possible.

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In Philadelphia, officials an expanded heat health emergency Until Sunday — that is, resources will remain available throughout the weekend, including refrigeration centres, home visits by dedicated teams, and better daytime assistance for people experiencing homelessness.

And the mayor of Washington DC declared a heat emergency It will be in effect until Monday morning as temperatures are expected to be 95 degrees or higher. Shelters and cooling centers have also opened to serve those in need, the mayor said.

The extreme heat in the US was also reflected in the deadly conditions in Europe, where records were broken and the European Wildfire Information System put 19 European countries on “extreme danger” warnings for wildfires.

A terrible weekend ahead

About 85% of the US population – or 273 million people – could see high temperatures of over 90 degrees next week. And about 55 million people could see high temperatures of 100 degrees or more over the next seven days.

By Thursday morning, 60-day high-temperature records were tied or broken across the US this week, and “more records will be broken over the next week,” the Weather Prediction Center said. Wrote.

Heat index values—the temperature felt when combined with heat and humidity—could rise above 100 degrees in a number of states this weekend, particularly in the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast.

On Saturday, the weather center said, “Scratchy temperatures have gripped the Midwest and Central Plains, and high temperatures are likely to exceed 100 degrees.” aforementioned.

The forecast center said on Sunday that the heat index could rise above 105 in parts of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic on Sunday.

Daytime temperatures can exceed 100 degrees in most of the Southwest over the weekend, and some areas can exceed 110 degrees, according to the center.

The forecast center noted that the south-central region can expect to see triple-digit high temperatures every day between Sunday and Thursday.

“There is some good news in the mid-range (after the weekend) as an approaching cold front is bringing a brief injection of cold heat to the Midwest and Northeast, but the core of intense heat is shifting to the South Central US and Pacific Northwest early next week. ,” the forecast center wrote.

Aerial view of people gathering near a homeless camp in Phoenix, Arizona, Thursday afternoon.

High temperatures threaten animals too

As high temperatures continue to affect much of the country, authorities are also faced with protecting farmers and their livestock.

In Missouri, the governor declared a drought emergency in 53 of the state’s more than 100 counties to allow farmers to use water from state parks. Authorities are also considering using the parks to grow hay to help farmers feed their animals.

According to David Anderson, a livestock economist at Texas A&M University, the situation in Texas is so dire that farmers are running out of water – forcing them to sell their cattle at a rate not seen in more than a decade.

Dry, hot conditions essentially kill grasses, severely thinning the cattle grazing pastures, leaving many farmers no choice but to send the cattle they can’t feed to slaughter.

“Many ranchers rely on wet ponds and tanks,” Anderson said. “I’ve heard a lot of stories about ranchers running out of water.”

CNN’s Andy Rose, Judson Jones, Paradise Afshar, Dakin Andone, Amir Vera, and Amanda Musa contributed to this report.