July 6th 2024.
As the scorching heat wave continues to grip the nation, approximately 130 million people are at risk of dangerously high temperatures from the East Coast to the West Coast. According to forecasters, this long-lasting heat wave has already broken records and is expected to break even more in the coming days.
Meteorologist Jacob Asherman from the National Weather Service warns that the combination of heat and humidity could push temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in parts of the Pacific Northwest, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast. In Oregon, cities like Eugene, Portland, and Salem are likely to see record-breaking temperatures. Millions of people across the country are seeking refuge from the oppressive heat in cooling centers, from Bullhead City, Arizona to Norfolk, Virginia.
Asherman describes this as an unusual and extreme event that is expected to last at least until midweek. In Las Vegas, where the temperature reached 100 degrees by 10:30 a.m., Marko Boscovich suggests staying cool by sitting in an air-conditioned casino and enjoying a cold beer while trying your luck at a slot machine. However, for Marko, anything above triple digits is all the same. He is hoping to catch a Dead & Company concert later that night, and maybe they'll play his favorite song, `Cold Rain and Snow.'
Meanwhile, records are being shattered in the Southwest, with Phoenix already reaching 100 degrees by 10:30 a.m. on Saturday. Meteorologists predict that temperatures will remain near daily records throughout the week in the lower desert areas, with highs reaching 115 to 120 degrees. Even the upper elevations, including Lake Tahoe, are under rare heat advisories, with warnings of major heat risks even in the mountains.
The National Weather Service in Reno estimates that high temperatures in the area will not drop below 100 degrees until next weekend, with little relief overnight. Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, broke its own record on Friday with a temperature of 127 degrees. Palm Springs, California also set a new record with a scorching 124 degrees. And more extreme highs are predicted for the coming days, with Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park expected to reach 129 degrees on Sunday, and possibly even 130 degrees during the week. The hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134 degrees in Death Valley in 1913, but some experts believe that the true record was set in July of 2021, with a temperature of 130 degrees.
The worst of the heat is yet to come for much of the West, with temperatures expected to be 15 to 30 degrees higher than average throughout the week. The Eastern U.S. is also preparing for extreme temperatures, with Baltimore and other parts of Maryland under an excessive heat warning. Heat index values could reach 110 degrees, prompting the National Weather Service to advise people to stay hydrated, stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces, and check on vulnerable family members and neighbors. They also warn against leaving young children or pets in hot cars, as heat-related deaths are already starting to occur.
In Maricopa County, Arizona, which includes Phoenix, there have been 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, with over 160 other suspected cases currently under investigation. And just this week, a 10-year-old boy tragically passed away after suffering a heat-related medical emergency while hiking with his family in Phoenix.
As the heat wave continues, people across the nation are finding ways to cope. At the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, Oregon, music fans are seeking relief from the heat by drinking cold water, finding shade, and cooling off under water misters. The organizers of the event are even offering free access to air conditioning at a nearby hotel. Attendee Angela Quiroz is taking precautions by keeping her scarf and hat wet and applying sunscreen. She notes that there is a significant difference between being in the shade versus the sun, saying that being in the sun feels like being cooked.
Reporting for the Associated Press, Julie Walker contributed from New York, while Rebecca Boone reported from Boise, Idaho and Scott Sonner reported from Reno, Nevada. Other journalists from the Associated Press, 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 report.
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