Topline
The National Weather Service predicts unprecedented temperatures in the hundreds could hit cities from Denver to Charleston, South Carolina, through Wednesday, with dangerous storms forming on the heat wave’s northern edges.
Thermometer in the sky, the heat
Key Facts
Record high temperatures are expected, with Minneapolis projected to reach 99 degrees on Tuesday, and Columbia, South Carolina hitting highs near 104 degrees on Tuesday.
Although heat waves are common during the summer months, they are becoming more severe and prolonged due to man-made climate change, according to numerous studies.
Excessive humidity levels will likely make the weather feel several degrees warmer.
The intense heat is due to a large high pressure zone – often referred to as a heat dome – which has shifted from the Southwest to the lower Mississippi Valley on Monday and is likely to move towards Nashville by Wednesday, the Washington Post reported.
Severe thunderstorms are predicted from portions of the Midwest into the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley Monday afternoon and evening.
Key Background
Last weekend, more than 25 major cities tied or broke record-high temperatures. At 122 degrees, California’s Death Valley was the hottest place in the country on Saturday. Palm Springs and Phoenix followed behind, both with Saturday highs of 114 degrees.
Big Number
100 million Americans are under high heat advisories or warnings this week, according to the National Weather Service.
Key Quote
“It’ll stretch eventually by mid-week from the Great Lakes to the Southern Plains eastward. Not too hot in the northeast yet, more of an average,” Robert Oravec, a lead forecaster with the National Weather Service, told NPR. “It’s a very typical heat wave pattern set up in the Southwest and spreading now into the plains. You’re almost into mid-June now, so it’s not uncommon to see weather patterns that support a heatwave.”
Further Reading
Record-setting heat wave expands east; over 100 million under alerts (Washington Post)
More Than 70 Million Bake In Record-Breaking Southwest Heat Wave—And It’s Pushing East (Forbes)
‘Dangerous And Deadly’ Heat Wave Sweeping Southwest This Weekend (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/juliecoleman/2022/06/13/massive-western-heat-wave-spreading-east-from-colorado-to-south-carolina/