The federal National Weather Service has issued heat warnings, advisories and watches urging people in parts of 30 states to “stay out of the sun” due to soaring temperatures this weekend.
Why It Matters
The NWS warns that “heat related illnesses increase significantly during extreme heat and high humidity events” and is urging people in impacted areas to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a federal agency, between 2004 and 2018 an average of 702 heat-related deaths were recorded in the United States each year.
What To Know
NWS extreme heat warnings have been issued for a swath of the Midwest including southern and central Minnesota, north-western Wisconsin, western Iowa, eastern Nebraska and south-eastern South Dakota.
These warnings also apply to parts of the U.S. East Coast including Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey out into Pennsylvania, as well as some counties on both sides of the Ohio/West Virginia border.
A small number of counties in south-western Illinois and eastern Missouri are also covered by extreme heat warnings.
Overall extreme heat warnings apply to parts of Wisconsin, Illinois, West Virginia, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Minnesota.
The NWS warns of “dangerously hot conditions” with temperatures of up to 110 degrees in some areas. In some areas the warnings extend into Monday.
Separately the NWS has issued extreme heat watches, which are a step down from warnings, for a large section of the U.S. ranging from Louisiana and Mississippi in the south all the way up to Michigan and Minnesota in the north, and extending out to Colorado in the west.
Extreme heat watches have been applied to parts of Kansas, Colorado, Louisiana, Mississippi, Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, Indiana, Vermont, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, North Dakota, Alabama and Minnesota.
They are also in place for parts of states that have extreme heat warnings in place, but aren’t directly covered.
Some of these areas could see temperatures rise above 100 degrees with high humidity creating a health risk.
Lesser NWS heat advisory notices are also in force for parts of Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, West Virginia, Iowa, Indiana, Tennessee, Nevada, Nebraska, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, New York, Kentucky, Maine, Ohio, New Jersey, Massachusetts, North Dakota and Alabama that are not otherwise covered by other heat watches or warnings.
Southern California could be hit by “large life-threatening wildfires” according to the NWS, whilst winter storm warnings and advisory notices are in force for parts of Montana and Idaho.
What People Are Saying
The NWS is urging those living in areas covered by extreme heat warnings or watches to “take precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Stay cool, stay hydrated, stay informed.”
People are also told not to leave youth children or pets in unattended vehicles as “car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”
What Happens Next
The heat dome that covers parts of the U.S. is expected to continue into Monday, when 152 million people will be under extreme heat risk, before conditions start to become milder.
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