Photo: Kevork Djansezian / Getty Images
A suffocating heat wave, already affecting Texas, is about to spread to much of the 48 continental states. The forecast is that temperatures in the mid 90 degrees Fahrenheit will rise as far north as the Canadian border by Saturday, with 25 degrees or more above average.
Early season heat record-breaking temperatures will persist from Wednesday across the southern United States and spread into the Ohio Valley, the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast through Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Amarillo, in Texas, reached 101 degrees F on Tuesday, breaking a record that had stood for nearly a century. In Dallas, the last days have hovered at 90 degrees or more, the earliest streak on record.
It is expected that more than 170 Millions of Americans, about half the population of the United States, experience temperatures above 90 degrees F in the next few days, according to The Washington Post.
The high temperatures in The and 100 grades will be 20 a 30 degrees F above average in many parts of north-central Texas, Oklahoma, and the central plains through Thursday.
The expected heat wave will cause Atlanta, Charlotte, Knoxville, Tenne ssee, washington, baltimore and philadelphia see their first instance of a heat of the year from 90 degrees for Friday.
Heading into the weekend, the heat and humidity this Saturday and Sunday in many areas will bring the hottest conditions since last August, and in some places could break the historical highs that have been maintained for more than 95 years, according to AccuWeather meteorologists.
A maximum of about 95 degrees is expected in the nation’s capital on Friday, its first high of 90 degrees of the year. By Saturday, the mercury could rise to 95 degrees in Washington DC, which would equal the record of 1934. Considering the humidity, it could feel like 100 degrees or even a little more.
Temperatures in the middle of the 90 grades will be recorded in New York City and Boston through Saturday, when slightly cooler conditions take over the midwest with highs around 75 degrees.
By Sunday, an approaching cold front will ease the heat on the Atlantic coast, but millions of Americans along of the Interstate corridor 95 could approach the 90 degrees one more time.
The storms that will cut the heat for the weekend could become severe and bring the risks of strong local winds, torrential rains and hail.
The early heat wave is related to climate change caused by man, which favors that these are earlier, longer and intense.
As Earth’s temperatures continue to rise, the climate will tilt towards more heat extremes, which will pose increasing risks to public health, particularly for vulnerable groups.
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