July 6th 2024.
This past weekend, meteorologists reported that roughly 130 million people were at risk of being affected by a scorching heat wave that has been ongoing for some time. The high temperatures, which have already broken records, are expected to continue to rise and shatter even more records from coast to coast. According to Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, the combination of heat and humidity could push temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in areas of the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast.
Asherman also mentioned that cities in Oregon, such as Eugene, Portland, and Salem, could potentially see record-breaking temperatures. He added that this heat wave is not limited to just one region, as dozens of other records throughout the country are expected to be broken. As a result, millions of people will be seeking relief from the intense heat in cooling centers across the country, from Bullhead City, Arizona to Norfolk, Virginia.
"This is definitely an unusual event that we are anticipating and it looks like it will continue through at least the middle of the week," Asherman stated.
By Saturday morning, the National Weather Service reported that the temperature in Phoenix had already reached 98 degrees, after experiencing a record high of 118 degrees just the day before. Meteorologists are predicting that temperatures will remain near record-breaking levels throughout the week in the lower desert regions, with highs reaching 115 to 120 degrees. In fact, even the upper elevations, including areas around Lake Tahoe, are under rare heat advisories, with the National Weather Service in Reno warning of "major heat risk impacts, even in the mountains."
"For reference, high temperatures in this region won't dip below 100 degrees until next weekend," the service posted online. "And unfortunately, there won't be much relief overnight either."
On Friday, a new heat record for the day was set in California's Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, with the temperature reaching a sweltering 127 degrees. This broke the previous record of 122 degrees, which was last tied in 2013. And the extreme temperatures are not stopping there, with temperatures expected to reach 129 degrees on Sunday and hover around 130 degrees until Wednesday. The hottest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 134 degrees in Death Valley in July of 1913, although some experts dispute this and claim that the real record was 130 degrees, recorded in July of 2021.
The worst is yet to come for much of the West, as the National Weather Service warns that triple-digit temperatures will continue to be between 15 and 30 degrees higher than average in the coming week. Even the Eastern U.S. is preparing for more hot weather, with parts of Maryland, including Baltimore, under an excessive heat warning. Forecasters predict heat index values could reach 110 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued an advisory for the Baltimore area, urging people to stay hydrated, stay in air-conditioned rooms, avoid the sun, and check on their loved ones and neighbors. They also reminded people to never leave young children or pets in vehicles under any circumstances.
Unfortunately, the heat has already claimed lives, with at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths in Arizona's Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. There are also over 160 other suspected heat deaths that are currently under investigation, according to the county's most recent report. Tragically, this does not include the death of a 10-year-old boy who suffered a heat-related medical event while hiking with his family in Phoenix earlier this week.
At the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon, music fans found ways to cope with the intense heat, such as drinking cold water, taking breaks in the shade, and refreshing themselves under water misters. The organizers of the festival even advertised free access to air conditioning at a nearby hotel.
Angela Quiroz, who attended the festival, shared her survival tactics, saying, "I kept my scarf and hat wet and made sure to apply sunscreen to protect myself from the heat. There's definitely a big difference between being in the shade and being in the sun. When you're in the sun, it feels like you're being cooked."
Associated Press reporter Julie Walker contributed to this report from New York, while Rebecca Boone reported from Boise, Idaho and Scott Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Other Associated Press journalists, including Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, North Carolina; John Antczak in Los Angeles; Rio Yamat in Las Vegas; Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia; and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, also contributed to this story.
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