More than 44 deaths linked to July 4 heatwave across the US
Another heatwave is building across parts of the United States and Canada, the BBC reported Tuesday, as a strong area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere pushes eastward, bringing extreme temperatures and poor air quality. Toronto and other Canadian cities, along with the US Midwest and Northeast, are experiencing high temperatures that began Tuesday and are expected to continue into Wednesday.
The heat dome — a mass of hot, humid air — has already broken all-time temperature records in parts of Montana and Utah, according to the BBC. The heat is now shifting eastward, with the northern Plains, Midwest, and Northeast bearing the brunt. Millions of people are under heat advisories in Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and as far west as Buffalo, New York, through Wednesday.
In Chicago, forecasters expect temperatures to reach 97°F on Wednesday. New York City could hit 100°F, while Washington, D.C. is expecting 102°F. The BBC reported that high humidity will make conditions feel even more uncomfortable. Central and eastern parts of Canada have also been hot, though a cold front is expected to bring lower temperatures and the threat of severe thunderstorms in the coming days. Those thundery conditions are forecast to develop more widely across the eastern part of North America by the weekend, pushing away the worst of the heat, though temperatures in many areas will remain above the seasonal norm.
The current heatwave follows a record-breaking July 4 heatwave that the BBC said affected more than 165 million people along the US East Coast and Midwest. At least 44 deaths across the US have been reported as a result of that earlier event, which also forced the cancellation of the Washington, D.C., July 4 parade and disrupted other holiday celebrations.
The BBC reported that heatwaves have become more frequent, more intense, and longer-lasting because of human-induced climate change. The world has already warmed by about 1.1°C since the industrial era began, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments make steep cuts to emissions. In a separate context, the BBC noted that more than 2,700 people may have died in exceptional May and June heatwaves in England and Wales.