Latest news with #extremetemperatures
CNN
6 days ago
- Climate
- CNN
US heat wave exposes infrastructure, health vulnerabilities – and it's not quite over yet
Extreme temperatures Climate changeFacebookTweetLink Follow Buckled roads. Broken bridges. Delayed trains. Strained power grids that led to dangerous outages. Cases of heat illness and canceled sporting events. These were just a few of the effects from this week's oppressive heat wave, which brought the hottest day in over a decade on Tuesday. As previous disasters have laid bare the United States' vulnerabilities to other types of extreme weather, this week is revealing strains in the country's infrastructure and highlighting the public health risks when faced with such record-breaking heat. The heat wave comes as the odds of extreme heat events globally are growing steeply as the world warms, along with their severity and duration. As global average temperatures increase, heat waves are the type of extreme weather event that scientists can most reliably tie to climate change caused by fossil fuel pollution. And this week's isn't over yet: Nearly 100 daily temperature records are threatened on Wednesday and heat indices are likely to reach the triple-digits along large portions of the East Coast. About 125 million people are still under extreme heat warnings and advisories on Wednesday. When this heat wave began to build over the weekend, roads buckled in South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota and Iowa as the asphalt baked in the hot sun. On Monday, passengers had to be rescued from an Amtrak stuck in a Baltimore tunnel with no air conditioning. Widespread speed restrictions were put in place along multiple Amtrak routes due to the tendency for the heat to warp rail tracks, along with the potential for electrical outages. Numerous trains were canceled outright due to the weather. More roads cracked in the East Coast as the heat persisted, including interstates in New Jersey. In New York City, subway platforms were transformed into saunas as temperatures in some areas soared to record levels for June, accompanied by sultry levels of humidity. In Massachusetts, the heat rendered some swing bridges inoperable. Heat waves are the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US, according to the National Weather Service, and while the full extent of any deaths or health impacts from this heat may take weeks or longer to become known, there have been prominent instances of heat-related illnesses. At least one death is being blamed on the heat in the St. Louis area, where a woman was reportedly living without water or air conditioning access for three days, police said. Sixteen people were sent to the hospital and over 150 were evaluated for heat-related illnesses during two high school graduations in Paterson, New Jersey. In Washington, DC, a K-Pop concert ended early due to a slew of heat-related health incidents on Monday night. And the Washington Monument remains closed on Wednesday due to the hot weather. Multiple hospitals, including in New York City and Chicago, had trouble maintaining their power and air conditioning systems, leading to stifling conditions. In New York, utility company Con Edison urged residents to conserve power to avoid rolling outages. Young hikers had to be rescued in New Hampshire due to heat-related injuries, and in Norfolk, Massachusetts, at least two firefighters were hospitalized due to exhaustion while battling flames in record hot conditions. And temperatures were so hot in Charlotte, North Carolina, that athletes competing in FIFA Club World Cup games on Tuesday watched their teams play from inside the locker room while on the substitute bench, German pro soccer team Bayern Munich said in a post on X. The heat peaked on Tuesday in many locations, with monthly records toppled from Maine to the Mid-Atlantic. In Augusta, Maine, the high temperature on Tuesday reached 100 degrees, its hottest on record for June and tying the state capital's all-time high temperature record. Boston reached 102 degrees, setting a new June high temperature record. Tuesday is now tied for the third-hottest day on record for the city – any other days that have been as hot or hotter all occurred in July or August. Philadelphia also marked its first 100-degree temperature reading since 2012, reaching 101 degrees Tuesday and setting the record for the city's hottest-ever day this early in the summer. The city broke Monday's daily high temperature record when it reached 99 degrees. Records also fell in Providence, Rhode Island, where temperatures reached 100 degrees – a new high for June high. Meanwhile, Newark, New Jersey, reached 103 degrees, tying the June high temperature record. In parts of New York City, temperatures climbed above the three-digit mark. John F. Kennedy International Airport, in Queens, hit 102 degrees on Monday afternoon – the first time since 2011 and the first time ever in the month of June. LaGuardia Airport, also in Queens, saw a high temperature of 101 degrees, tying its record for the month of June. Forecast high temperatures for these locations on Wednesday are in the mid-to-upper 90s, with heat indices exceeding 100 degrees. Studies have shown heat extremes have clear ties to global warming, as their likelihood and severity also increases significantly as global average temperature rises. An analysis by the climate research nonprofit Climate Central found climate change made Tuesday's extreme heat in the Mid-Atlantic at least five times more likely to occur when compared with a modeled world without emissions from burning fossil fuels. 'There is no uncertainty around the fact that climate change makes heatwaves more intense and more frequent,' said climate scientist Fredi Otto, who leads an international group, World Weather Attribution, that examines extreme weather events and their potential climate change ties. 'We've always had dangerous heat, but in our warming world, that heat is pushing to new levels and extremes,' said Bernadette Woods Placky, chief meteorologist at Climate Central. As scientists continue to examine the ties between extreme weather and climate change, the link is becoming clearer. 'Nearly all extreme heat events that have been analyzed show an influence from climate change–meaning that climate change pushed the heat to new extremes, and often for longer periods of time,' she told CNN. CNN's Rebekah Riess and CNN Meteorologist Linda Lam contributed to this report.
CNN
24-06-2025
- Climate
- CNN
It will be the hottest day in over a decade for parts of the East Coast as extreme heat wave reaches its peak
Extreme temperaturesFacebookTweetLink Follow A long-lasting extreme heat wave is reaching its dangerous crescendo Tuesday, likely bringing the hottest day in a decade to some major East Coast cities and putting millions of already fatigued Americans at risk. The brutal conditions, spurred by a potent heat dome, are peaking Tuesday after Monday's heat in the East reached levels rivaling summer's hottest weather and started to take a serious toll. Two high school graduations in Paterson, New Jersey, in Monday's sweltering conditions sent 16 people to the emergency room and over 150 people were evaluated for heat-related illnesses, Paterson Fire Chief Alejandro Alicea told CNN. In Baltimore, an Amtrak train stalled in a tunnel and left passengers trapped in the heat for over an hour Monday afternoon. 'I honestly thought I was going to collapse on the train, and I'm fairly young and in good shape,' passenger Laura Evans told CNN, adding several of the train's cars were without air conditioning even at the start of the journey. The extreme temperatures also prompted closures of some attractions, including the Washington Monument in Washington, DC, which closed Monday and remained closed Tuesday due to an Extreme Heat Warning, according to an alert on the National Park Service website. Nearly 160 million people in the eastern half of the US are under heat alerts Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Heat remains the deadliest form of extreme weather in the US. Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent, more severe and longer-lasting as the world warms due to human-caused climate change. Nighttime temperatures are taking the hardest hit from climate change, and are warming faster than daytime highs. Extreme heat also takes a toll on infrastructure, causing materials like concrete and asphalt to expand and warp. Parts of key thoroughfares in Milwaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, suburbs were closed after buckling under searing heat Sunday, local officials said. More than 50 buckles were reported in the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Similar scenes unfolded in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and the city warned more streets could crack as the heat persists. Rail and air travel could face continued challenges as temperatures peak Tuesday. Tuesday will likely be the hottest day of the week for many in the East, but a level 4-of-4 extreme heat risk is in place through at least Thursday that stretches from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and includes parts of the Northeast. It feels more like July, summer's hottest month, than June for many locations Tuesday as temperatures rise 15 to 20 degrees above normal. Triple-digit high temperatures will set in from the Carolinas north into southern New England – including every major I-95 city. Tuesday in Boston could be hotter than it's ever been in June. The forecast high of 101 degrees would break the June high temperature record and come within 3 degrees of the all-time record. Philadelphia could also make a run for its all-time hottest June day – 102 degrees – with a forecast high of 101. A high of 101 degrees would also make Tuesday the city's hottest-ever day this early in the summer. The city broke Monday's daily high temperature record when it reached 99 degrees. New York City could hit 100 degrees for the first time in over a decade on Tuesday. The city's last triple-digit temperature happened on July 18, 2012, but it hasn't been 100 degrees during June since 1966 – nearly 60 years. Like Philadelphia, a high of 100 degrees would make Tuesday New York's hottest day this early in the season. Monday marked the city's hottest day in nearly three years. Washington, DC, is forecast to notch its first 100-degree day of the year on Tuesday – something that doesn't typically happen until mid-July. A high of 101 degrees in the nation's capital would break Tuesday's daily record of 100 degrees. Parts of the East Coast will start to see some relief from the historically hot weather Wednesday, though it'll be a slow start. Wednesday will still be very hot, but not quite as extreme for many. Record-breaking temperatures are possible, mainly in the mid-Atlantic, but triple-digit temperatures will be a thing of the past for the Northeast. Heat more typical of late June will arrive on Thursday and continue into the weekend. This heat wave is likely only the opening act of a hot summer to come for the East. A hotter than normal summer is expected for the entire Lower 48, according to the Climate Prediction Center. CNN's Chris Boyette, Sarah Dewberry, Taylor Romine, Amanda Musa, Jillian Sykes, Tyler Ory and Luke Snyder contributed to this report
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Northeast braces for record-breaking temperatures
More than 100 million Americans from the Central Plains to the Northeast are bracing for a powerful heat dome that will bring extreme temperatures through next week . A heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps hot air and blocks cooler air, is driving prolonged heat waves across the US. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that on Friday, temperatures in central states like Colorado , Nebraska , Kansas , Iowa , Missouri and Illinois will climb to the upper 90s to low 100s°F, with heat indices exceeding 105°F due to high humidity. Cities like Omaha, Topeka, and Kansas City face excessive heat warnings, signaling serious health risks for those without adequate cooling or hydration. Minnesota , Wisconsin and Michigan are also sweltering, with highs in the low to mid-90s°F and heat indices nearing 100°F. Minneapolis is among the cities under heat advisories. Over the weekend, the heat dome will shift eastward, intensifying heat in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. On Saturday, New York City will reach the low 90s°F, with heat indices near 100°F due to humid Atlantic air. By Sunday, Boston and Philadelphia are forecast to hit the mid-90s°F, with heat indices up to 104°F. The NWS urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Cooling centers are opening in cities like New York and Philadelphia to provide relief. A heat dome occurs when a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a reservoir that traps heat and humidity, said Ricky Castro, a NWS meteorologist in Illinois. AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus warned: 'From Monday to Wednesday, the Northeast will face dangerous heat, with widespread highs in the 90s and some areas nearing 100°F, spiking energy demands and requiring limited exposure .' The heat dome will peak on Monday, June 23, with the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and New England at 'high risk' of extreme heat, potentially straining power grids. Tom Kines, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, said: 'A lot of those folks have been saying, where's summer? Well, buckle up, because it's coming.' With limited days of warmth over much of the northern Plains, Midwest and Northeast so far this year, the surging heat could catch people off guard as it will be accompanied by some of the most intense sunshine of the year along with high humidity levels . With sweltering humidity and relentless daytime heat, many urban areas are expected to see little relief overnight. Temperatures will briefly dip into the 70s before climbing again, making it difficult for those without air conditioning to cool down or recover, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Ehresman. The intense conditions will likely drive up energy demand and significantly increase the risk of heat-related illness. AccuWeather warns that RealFeel Temperatures could soar 5 to 15 degrees higher than actual readings, topping 100°F in many regions, even where the official highs remain in the 90s. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during the midday and afternoon hours when the heat will be at its most oppressive. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said: 'The magnitude and longevity of this heat wave will be a shock to the system.'
Daily Mail
20-06-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Live tracker reveals where 100m Americans will roast under 'heat dome' starting TODAY
More than 100 million Americans from the Central Plains to the Northeast are bracing for a powerful heat dome that will bring extreme temperatures through next week. A heat dome, a high-pressure system that traps hot air and blocks cooler air, is driving prolonged heat waves across the US. The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that on Friday, temperatures in central states like Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri and Illinois will climb to the upper 90s to low 100s°F, with heat indices exceeding 105°F due to high humidity. Cities like Omaha, Topeka, and Kansas City face excessive heat warnings, signaling serious health risks for those without adequate cooling or hydration. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan are also sweltering, with highs in the low to mid-90s°F and heat indices nearing 100°F. Minneapolis is among the cities under heat advisories. Over the weekend, the heat dome will shift eastward, intensifying heat in the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. On Saturday, New York City will reach the low 90s°F, with heat indices near 100°F due to humid Atlantic air. By Sunday, Boston and Philadelphia are forecast to hit the mid-90s°F, with heat indices up to 104°F. The NWS urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight, and check on vulnerable neighbors. Cooling centers are opening in cities like New York and Philadelphia to provide relief. A heat dome occurs when a large area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere acts as a reservoir that traps heat and humidity, said Ricky Castro, a NWS meteorologist in Illinois. AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex Duffus warned: 'From Monday to Wednesday, the Northeast will face dangerous heat, with widespread highs in the 90s and some areas nearing 100°F, spiking energy demands and requiring limited exposure.' The heat dome will peak on Monday, June 23, with the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and New England at 'high risk' of extreme heat, potentially straining power grids. Tom Kines, a meteorologist at AccuWeather, said: 'A lot of those folks have been saying, where's summer? Well, buckle up, because it's coming.' With limited days of warmth over much of the northern Plains, Midwest and Northeast so far this year, the surging heat could catch people off guard as it will be accompanied by some of the most intense sunshine of the year along with high humidity levels. With sweltering humidity and relentless daytime heat, many urban areas are expected to see little relief overnight. Temperatures will briefly dip into the 70s before climbing again, making it difficult for those without air conditioning to cool down or recover, according to AccuWeather meteorologist Danielle Ehresman. The intense conditions will likely drive up energy demand and significantly increase the risk of heat-related illness. AccuWeather warns that RealFeel® Temperatures could soar 5 to 15 degrees higher than actual readings, topping 100°F in many regions, even where the official highs remain in the 90s. Residents are urged to limit outdoor activity during the midday and afternoon hours when the heat will be at its most oppressive. AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Chad Merrill said: 'The magnitude and longevity of this heat wave will be a shock to the system.' Doctors urge the public to take excessive heat warnings seriously, as extreme temperatures pose a significant health risk. Each year, more than 700 people in the US die from heat-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Fifth National Climate Assessment identifies extreme heat as the deadliest weather-related hazard in the country.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
UK has 50:50 chance of 40C temperatures again in next 12 years, Met Office says
The UK has a 50:50 chance of seeing temperatures soar to 40C again in the next 12 years, as the risk of extreme heat rises with climate change, the Met Office said. The meteorological experts also warned that far higher temperatures of 45C or more 'may be possible' in today's climate, while heatwaves could go on for a month or more. Temperatures hit 40C in the UK for the first time on record amid the heatwave and drought summer of 2022, peaking at 40.3C in Coningsby in Lincolnshire on July 19, outstripping the previous top temperature of 38.7C in Cambridge, set just three years earlier, by 1.6C. Major incidents were announced by fire brigades in London, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire as dozens of fires broke out and ripped through houses, schools, churches and farmland, while there was widespread disruption to transport and power systems. More than 1,000 excess deaths among older people were recorded around the four-day peak of the heatwave, with more than 3,000 heat-related deaths in England over summer 2022. Analysis by the Met Office, using global models to create a large number of climate outcomes in current conditions, shows the risk of 40C temperatures in the UK has been rapidly increasing. A study published in Weather Journal shows that the chance of temperatures hitting 40C is more than 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s, and has almost trebled since the year 2000. With ongoing climate change pushing up temperatures, the chances of exceeding 40C are continuing to increase, with a 50:50 chance of a day hitting that threshold again in the next 12 years, the Met Office said. Temperatures several degrees higher than the July 2022 record – up to a maximum of 46.6C – are also 'plausible'. Dr Gillian Kay, senior scientist at the Met Office, and lead author of the study, said: 'The chance of exceeding 40C has been rapidly increasing, and it is now over 20 times more likely than it was in the 1960s. 'Because our climate continues to warm, we can expect the chance to keep rising. 'We estimate a 50:50 chance of seeing a 40C day again in the next 12 years. 'We also found that temperatures several degrees higher than we saw in July 2022 are possible in today's climate.' Its study also looked at heatwaves, and found that 'much more severe' extremes could occur in the current climate. The climate model shows up to two-thirds of summer days could be above the heatwave threshold of 28C in south-east England, with more than a month in continuous heatwave. And 12 consecutive days above 35C is also possible, the study says. Met Office experts said the findings showed the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures and extreme heat. Dr Nick Dunstone, Met Office science fellow and co-author of the study, said: 'The well-known hot summer of 1976 had more than a fortnight above 28°C, which is a key heatwave threshold in south-east England. 'Our study finds that in today's climate such conditions could persist for a month or more. 'These findings highlight the need to prepare and plan for the impacts of rising temperatures now, so we can better protect public health, infrastructure, and the environment from the growing threat of extreme heat.'
