Dangerous high temperatures are sweeping across the central and western United States. On Monday, 38 million people were under a heat alert, and by this Thursday, this heatwave may set multiple records.
Chicago has issued an excessive-heat warning. On Monday and Tuesday, the heat index in Chicago, taking humidity into account, could reach scorching 110 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 43.3 degrees Celsius).
Minneapolis, Madison in Wisconsin, and Omaha in Nebraska have also issued excessive-heat warnings. On Monday, the heat index in these cities could climb to 115 degrees Fahrenheit (about 46.1 degrees Celsius).
In Detroit, public schools will dismiss three hours early on Monday and Tuesday due to the high temperatures.
The high temperatures are expected to spread towards the east and south this week. From Chicago to Louisville in Kentucky, record-breaking temperatures are possible on Tuesday; from Nashville in Tennessee to Washington D.C., record-breaking temperatures may occur on Wednesday.
Texas experienced record-breaking high temperatures over the past weekend. Amarillo in the state reached a record-breaking 104 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 40 degrees Celsius) on August 25.
Due to the extremely hot and humid atmosphere, any sudden storms could quickly turn into severe storms, with the potential for destructive high winds and large hail.
Chicago has 50 cooling centers set up to help mitigate the dangerous heat.
In the central and midwestern regions and the Ohio Valley, many places may see the hottest days of the summer in the last few days. By Wednesday, temperatures east of the Appalachian Mountains may also approach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 37.8 degrees Celsius).
The areas covered by the heat alerts extend from the west coast of Lake Superior to northern Oklahoma, and eastward to the downstream of the Great Lakes. Other heat alerts in the Ohio Valley, the mid-Atlantic, and southeastern regions may last at least until Thursday.
Fortunately, this heatwave is relatively short-lived, but will bring many record-breaking temperatures, while severe thunderstorms are likely to form on its northern periphery.
The National Weather Service in the United States states that over the next few days, most parts of nearly twenty states across the country will face a severe to extreme heat risk level.
According to data from the online database WONDER of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, hundreds of people die each year due to extreme heat, with scientists warning that the actual number of heat-related deaths may be even higher.