The Northeast and Midwest regions of the United States are currently facing a record-breaking heatwave, with tens of millions of people suffering in the scorching heat. This has led to strained power supply, disruptions in railway transportation, and widespread health warnings.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) report, as of Monday (June 23), over 86 million people in the Northeast, Midwest, and Great Lakes region of the United States are under high-temperature alert. This heatwave is expected to last for a week, with temperatures feeling like they could surpass 43 degrees Celsius (110 degrees Fahrenheit) in many areas. Nighttime temperatures are also staying high, with some cities experiencing temperatures between 21 to 27 degrees Celsius, making it difficult to find relief.
New York City is expected to reach a temperature of 36 degrees Celsius (97 degrees Fahrenheit) on Tuesday, breaking the same-day record since 1888. Forecasts indicate that temperatures will only slightly drop starting from Wednesday.
The high temperatures have led to a surge in the use of cooling equipment like air conditioners, increasing the demand for electricity. The largest grid operators in the US, PJM Interconnection and MISO in the Midwest, have issued warnings, requiring power plants to operate at full capacity. PJM estimates the electricity demand for Monday to Wednesday to be 160,000, 158,000, and 155,000 megawatts respectively. Typically, 1 megawatt can supply around 800 households, but it is clearly insufficient during extreme heat.
Electricity prices have also soared in sync with the heatwave. At 5:30 PM on Monday, the real-time wholesale electricity price in Boston surged to over $400 per megawatt-hour, several times higher than the daytime price of less than $50. According to a report from New York State’s grid, the evening electricity price in New York City surpassed $600.
Con Edison, the power company in New York, stated that the heatwave resulted in power outages for over 6,200 households and businesses in Queens, of which about 1,600 had their power restored on Monday night.
The high temperatures have impacted transportation and outdoor work environments. Some East Coast railway trains have been temporarily suspended for safety reasons, while Amtrak trains have implemented “heat restrictions” due to excessively high track temperatures, requiring some sections to slow down or stop. When the track temperature exceeds 128 degrees Fahrenheit (54 degrees Celsius), it reaches a safety alert level.
Medical experts recommend that companies adjust outdoor work hours, ensure adequate rest and hydration, and be vigilant for signs of heatstroke or heat exhaustion. Police departments in locations such as Washington D.C. and Raleigh, North Carolina have issued summer heat guidelines for outdoor officers.
Experts point out that extreme heat is one of the most life-threatening weather events for humans under climate change, with the risk of death surpassing even floods and hurricanes. The year 2024 was listed as one of the hottest years in history, with temperatures expected to continue rising over the next few decades.
“Many people ask: Where is safe? The answer might be – nowhere,” said Howard Frumkin, an environmental and occupational health scholar at the University of Washington, highlighting how traditionally safe regions in the US Midwest and West are now experiencing deadly heatwaves more frequently.
This heatwave not only affects the US. The UK has issued death warnings this week due to high temperatures, with over five hundred heat-related deaths recorded in England and Wales recently; Alaska issued its first-ever heat advisory last week; and China experienced soaring temperatures last month, breaking historical records in many areas.
Swiss Re, a reinsurance company, pointed out that extreme heat is rapidly expanding economic losses in agriculture, livestock, energy, healthcare, and transportation systems.
“This is a societal wake-up call,” said Nina Arquint, the CEO of Swiss Re in the UK and Ireland, adding that the casualties from such high-temperature events often surpass natural disasters, but the true costs are just beginning to emerge.
Experts warn that as global temperatures rise, extreme heatwaves will become more commonplace, and all sectors must accelerate their response and adaptation efforts.
(This article is based on relevant reports from Reuters)