Meteorologist warns heat wave’s duration and humidity will drive deaths
A late summer heat dome has settled over much of the United States, putting roughly 97 million people under heat advisories from the central Plains to the Southeast, according to the National Weather Service. The agency forecast dangerous temperatures would persist through Wednesday across more than a dozen states in the Southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley.
The National Weather Service said some places could hit 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.8 Celsius), and in portions of the Southeast the combination of soaring temperatures and high humidity could make it feel as hot as 115°F (46°C).
The heat dome effect occurs when high-pressure systems sit above a region, trapping heat and humidity closer to the ground.
Forecasters said overnight relief would be minimal, with lows predicted to remain in the 70s across many areas and urban centers unlikely to drop below about 80°F.
“The nighttime lows are not going to get below about 80 Fahrenheit for a lot of urban areas,” said Jeff Masters, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections. “So that’s really going to bump up the mortality from this heat wave. It’s going to be deadly because of all these factors: Long lasting, intense, and high humidity.”
People were urged to stay indoors when possible and keep hydrated as the heat wave continued, according to the report. The affected region stretches from the central Plains through the Southeast and into the lower Mississippi Valley.