Surviving the Heat: Navigating the Record-Breaking Heat Wave

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A record-breaking heat wave is gripping the US, with temperatures soaring to dangerous levels in the Northeast and Midwest.

Around 270 million people will experience temperatures at or above 90 degrees this week due to an impressive heat dome over the eastern US.

Hundreds of records might be tied or broken this week, with temperatures hitting levels usually seen only in the hottest July days.

Parts of the Midwest and Northeast could face the longest heat wave in decades, as the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center warned.

Scientists have predicted that heat waves will become increasingly severe as the climate crisis worsens.

Many people in the US will feel temperatures in the low 100s this week due to the high humidity driving heat index values.

An extreme heat risk is in place from the Great Lakes into the Northeast this week, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday and Thursday are predicted to be the hottest days of the week, but the surrounding days will be nearly as brutal.

Major metropolitan areas like Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, New York City, and Boston will face dangerous heat levels.

Temperatures soared 15 to 20 degrees above normal on Monday afternoon and stayed high overnight, breaking several temperature records.

Montpelier, Vermont; Syracuse, New York; and Pittsburgh are among areas that haven’t seen such heat in about three decades.

In Pittsburgh, the local weather service noted the last time they saw heat like this was in June 1994, with 95°F or warmer for six straight days.

To combat the heat, some affected areas have started to activate heat protocols and open cooling centers.

Cooling centers will open across New York City, and cooling kits will be distributed to outdoor workers starting Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams announced.

Burlington, Vermont, will also activate cooling centers, and Cleveland has extended hours at recreation centers and suspended playground programs.

Heat domes trap air in place and bake it with sunshine for days, making each day hotter than the last, and limiting overnight cooling.

The Weather Prediction Center warned that warm overnight temperatures only dropping into the mid-70s will offer little relief, especially for those without adequate cooling.

Humidity will combine with extreme heat to create triple-digit heat indices in some areas, making it feel even hotter.

In Chicago, residents could feel heat indices between 95 and 105 degrees through next week, the NWS in Chicago warned.

Eastern New York and western New England might see heat indices as high as 107 degrees, according to forecasts.

In Detroit, the NWS urged residents to practice heat safety by limiting outdoor activities, staying hydrated, and checking on vulnerable neighbors.

Heat-related illness is a major concern, especially for the elderly, young children, and outdoor workers during these extreme conditions.

Extreme heat is the deadliest form of severe weather, killing twice as many people annually as tornadoes and hurricanes combined.

Remember, staying hydrated and avoiding strenuous activity during peak heat hours are crucial too. Let's enjoy the sunshine safely, folks!