Dangerous heat dome brings life-threatening temperatures to nearly 170 million people across 28 states

Yahoo

5 days ago

Millions of people across the eastern United States are experiencing the 'first significant heat wave this season' over the next several days as record-high temperatures set in, according to the National Weather Service.
Nearly 170 million people across 28 states are under various heat alerts, the federal agency says. 'High temperatures in the 90s to 100s and lows in the 70s to low 80s will break numerous records over the next several days,' according to a Monday update from the NWS.
In New York, Gov. Kathy Hochul has declared a state of emergency in 32 counties as the state faces a one-two punch of extreme heat and severe weather.
'Extremely dangerous heat' will persist from the Midwest to the East Coast this week at least through Wednesday, according to the NWS.
On Monday, extreme heat warnings and advisories will expand from the Midwest into the mid-Atlantic. 'This level of HeatRisk is known for being rare and/or long duration with little to no overnight relief, and affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration,' the NWS said.
Areas with dense urban centers like Columbus, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Philadelphia will feel especially significant heat impacts.
You can check to see if your area is under a heat warning or advisory here.
Early Monday afternoon, nearly 10,000 customers were experiencing power outages in the New York City borough of Queens along the border with Long Island due to the extreme heat. Around 1 p.m. ET, there were just over 7,500 customers without power.
In neighboring Connecticut, hundreds of power outages were reported by the state's largest utility provider, Eversource. Around 1 p.m. ET, the outages were at around 450.
Meteorologists say the oppressive heat is due to a 'heat dome.' It happens when heat and humidity are trapped by an area of high pressure that's in the upper atmosphere. Dangerously high temperatures and poor air quality are a result when the heat dome is stationary and the air is extremely hot and stagnant.
A heat wave happens when there's a period of unusually hot weather for more than two days.
Heat is one of the deadliest forms of extreme weather in the U.S. There has been an average of 800 heat-related deaths per year in the country since 1999, according to a 2023 study.
The NWS recommends that people affected by the extreme heat wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. It's important to monitor symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke, which can include muscle cramps, unusually heavy sweating, shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches, weakness or nausea, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If symptoms continue after you've moved to a cool place and have hydrated, seek medical care.
Read more from Yahoo News: How extreme heat affects the body — and who's most at risk