Weather Service Warns 'Dangerous' Heat in The US To Persist; More than 85 Million People Suffer

The National Weather Services (NWS) warned the lethal heat wave that is currently searing most of the United States persists on Sunday in the Northeast and mid-South.

There are multiple heat alerts in effect for more than 85 million people around the nation due to extremely high temperatures. The Northeast would have its hottest day on Sunday.

This weekend, oppressive heat will bake much of the US, with triple-digit temperatures predicted for the Northeast, as reported by CNN.

On Twitter, the NWS posted: "From the southern Plains into the East, it will feel extremely oppressive, especially in the major metro areas of Washington DC to New York City and Boston."

Moreover, the Weather Prediction Center announced that Sunday heat index values "from the Mid-Atlantic up into New England (Sunday) with many places expected to hit the upper 90s and heat indices to eclipse 100 degrees."

Forest Fires, Death Due to Heat Exhaustion

A representative for the city's medical examiner's office confirmed that at least one individual in New York City died on Saturday due to heat exhaustion. According to the spokeswoman, the person also had other medical conditions. Saturday's expected high in New York City was 97 degrees.

A 66-year-old Dallas lady who had pre-existing medical issues was among the other heat-related casualties this week, according to a county official. A 22-year-old hiker died on Wednesday at a national park in South Dakota, possibly from dehydration and exposure, per local authorities.

At least 19 individuals died in America in July as a result of the extreme heat.

After igniting a day earlier, a wildfire in California tore through hundreds of acres as millions of Americans sweltered in the heat as temperatures were already breaking records and were expected to rise.

The risk of fires has grown due to the widespread heat wave, such as the significant Oak Fire that started on Friday in California close to Yosemite National Park, where gigantic sequoias have already been put in danger by fire in recent days, as per a report from Inquirer.

Within 24 hours, the fire-which authorities called "explosive"-grew from roughly 600 to over 11,900 acres (4,800 hectares). Concentrated in Mariposa County, it has already damaged five buildings and destroyed 10, with hundreds more potentially at risk.

Hector Vasquez, an officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, reported that more than 6,000 people had been evacuated because the wildfire was still blazing as of Saturday night.

Authorities Advise the Public To Be Extra Careful

Fox News reported that heat indices were predicted to reach 105 in some areas of southern Utah and northern Arizona and to reach 110 in some spots. According to the NWS, some parts of the Northeast will experience temperatures in the 100s with heat indices as high as 110.

Local officials have declared heat emergencies in response to the intense heat that millions of people have been experiencing, conditions that experts say are becoming more regular owing to climate change.

Additionally, authorities urge people to exercise extra caution when outdoors, drink plenty of water, and be vigilant about neighbors and towns with increased danger.

Tags

United States, Weather, Climate change