Over one hundred million people in the United States are facing extreme heat on Sunday (June 23), with East Coast cities tackling record-breaking high temperatures, while dangerous heat waves are also expanding towards the West Coast.
According to reports from Reuters, weather forecasts indicate that the temperatures in Baltimore, Maryland and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania were nearing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on Sunday, while states like Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming reached temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit, which is 15 degrees higher than normal for this time of year. The National Weather Service (NWS) stated that the extreme heat would shift to Nebraska and Kansas on Monday.
Officials have issued warnings for the Philadelphia area, as the humidity levels are so high that the heat index there could exceed 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), making it feel hotter than the actual temperature.
Meteorologist Marc Chenard from the National Weather Service stated, “This likely means as we get into July, we’ll see episodic bouts of heat for a good portion of the country. It’s not going to be everywhere every day, but the general pattern will increasingly be similar to what we’re seeing now.”
Temperatures have slightly dropped in the Ohio Valley, Great Lakes region, and New England area, but temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit continue from Virginia to New York.
In Asia and Europe, extreme heat is suspected to be the main cause of hundreds of deaths, as it has swept through cities across four continents. According to Reuters, over a thousand people have died in Saudi Arabia this year while attending the annual Hajj pilgrimage due to the scorching heat.
In New Mexico, officials are dealing with various weather events including dust storms, floods, and two wildfires.
The Biden administration declared a state of emergency last week for the wildfire situation, which has already claimed two lives and destroyed over 1,400 structures.
While high temperatures are causing problems for many states, some are also battling floods.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued a disaster declaration on Saturday, covering 21 counties, due to flooding triggered by heavy rainfall in the northwest of the state. Local news reports indicate that officials in Rock Valley ordered the state National Guard to assist in evacuating some residents.
Southern Minnesota and southeastern South Dakota have also issued flood warnings.