Most States See Sizzling Temperatures
The majority of the U.S. is in for another sweat dripping next few days as this weekend’s heat wave lingers into the work week.
The heat index is as high as 126 degrees in portions of the upper Midwest. Heat warnings, watches, and advisories remain in effect for most of central U.S. Seventeen states have issued heat warnings for this week and 36 states are expected to see 90 degrees or above today.
The Midlands are expected to see heat index values between 110-115 between Thursday through Sunday of this week. Air temperatures will likely break records and by Wednesday the midlands are expected to be at or around the century high mark.
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According to Accuweather, a high pressure system over the Great Plains is the cause for sizzling temperatures from Texas through the Midwest. The plains and Mississippi Valley are likely to feel the worst of the hot temperatures this week.
Temperatures in the Northeast and Southeast are expected to stay in high 80s, low 90s.
Along with decreasing any desire to want to be outside, the weather has also decreased profits in some states. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 95 percent of Texas is suffering from extreme drought. This has contributed to $3 billion in crop losses.
Oklahoma City reported an index of 114 degrees today. Like Texas, Oklahoma residences are concerned with the effect the drought will have on profits. There is little water to give to thirsty herds.
"We're selling 1,800 to 2,000 cows and it's just strictly due to drought," Bob Rodenberger, an auction owner in Oklahoma, told ABC News.
Wildfires are also a concern. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that nearly 5 million acres have already been burned, stretching from Arizona to Florida.
Jacob Beitlich, a Des Moines, Iowa, meteorologist, told CNN that two factors make this heat wave dangerous. First, there’s the lack of a significant drop in overnight temperatures. This drop normally allows people’s bodies to cool. Secondly, the high humidity makes the heat feel hotter than what the thermometer reads.
"That takes a toll on your body," Beitlich said to CNN. "When it's more humid, it's more difficult to cool down from sweating."
All the while, on the West Coast, a low pressure system is keeping temperatures unseasonably cool.
The National Weather Service warns that heat is the number one weather-related killer in the United States. Everyone is advised to take the necessary precautions this week and to be prepared for unusually hot weather. Be sure to check on neighbors, friends, and the elderly who may be more vulnerable to the high heat index.
