The heat wave has not yet reached its peak in the southern United States. This Friday, tens of millions of Americans are experiencing dangerously high temperatures due to a severe heat wave that stretches from California to Texas, and even parts of Florida. The peak of this wave is expected this weekend.
A heat dome has been wreaking havoc since the start of the week over the southwestern desert states, posing serious health risks to the elderly, construction and other delivery workers, or the homeless.
In Arizona, one of the hardest-hit states, daily life now resembles a marathon against the sun’s rays. Phoenix, the state capital, will record its 15th consecutive day above 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) on Friday, according to the US Weather Service (NWS).
The heat led to the cancellation of a series of concerts, which were supposed to take place at night every summer weekend in the city. This week on social media, some Arizona residents posted photos of melting tar on their roofs, or videos of them boiling an egg in the middle of a Dodger.
Almost 54°C in Death Valley
The authorities have been sounding the alarm without interruption for several days. They recommend that Americans avoid outdoor activities during the day and watch for signs of dehydration, which can quickly become fatal in such temperatures.
Telling yourself “it’s the desert, of course it’s hot” is “a DANGEROUS state of mind!” Las Vegas NWS insisted on Tuesday.
“The most intense period” of this heat wave “begins” this weekend, forecasters warned. Nevada City could break its temperature record on Sunday. In California, the famous “Valley of Death”, one of the hottest places on the planet, is also likely to reach peaks on Sunday, with a mercury that could hover around 54°C.
It was in Death Valley where the historical heat record was recorded on July 10, 1913 with 56.7°C, according to the World Meteorological Organizationbut some historians question the accuracy of such ancient measurements.
27 days above 37°C in El Paso
Invisible, unlike floods and wildfires, heat remains the deadliest weather event in the United States. However, the problem is regularly underestimated. Last weekend, sweltering temperatures killed ten migrants along the US-Mexico border, according to the Border Patrol (CBP).
Last week, Arizona’s most populous Maricopa County released a report counting 425 heat deaths in the summer of 2022, up 25% from the previous year. These figures have made headlines in the United States, as the heat numbs much of the south of the country.
In Texas, the city of El Paso sets longevity records, recording its 27th day above 37.7°C on Thursday. In Florida, the temperatures are also very high and the heat wave even affects the ocean.
no respite in sight
The White House took advantage of the ongoing heat wave to announce Tuesday the development of a “national heat strategy.” “Millions of Americans are affected by extreme heat waves, which are increasing in intensity, frequency and duration due to climate change,” President Joe Biden said in a statement.
The heat wave comes as the world has just experienced the hottest June on record, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Observatory (C3S).
In the United States, forecasters are yet to forecast a respite. Temperatures are expected to remain abnormally high next week in the south of the country.
Source: BFM TV
