Extreme heatwave to 'attack' dozens of US states after hitting Europe
Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- The US National Weather Service warns about 48 states facing extreme heat, 8 to 14 degrees Celsius above normal.
- A "heat dome" is expected to cover two-thirds of the mainland US, lasting for at least a week and potentially longer.
- Meteorologists warn that overnight temperatures could pose significant health risks, comparing the danger to that of tornadoes or storms.
The United States is bracing for an extreme heatwave, with the National Weather Service (NWS) predicting temperatures 8 to 14 degrees Celsius above average across approximately 48 states. This intense heat is expected to begin this week and persist for at least a week, with some areas potentially affected until the end of the month.
Climate scientists describe the incoming heatwave as "extraordinary" due to its duration, widespread nature, and high intensity, which will impact millions. A phenomenon known as a "heat dome" will initially settle over the Northern Plains but is so large it's expected to expand, covering up to two-thirds of the continental United States. This dome of hot air will eventually stretch from coast to coast.
The heatwave that is coming seems to be extraordinary, it will be long, widespread and with high intensity affecting millions for a week.
Forecasters predict that states including Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota could see record-breaking temperatures. The NWS anticipates over 90 local temperature records will be broken. Meteorologists are particularly concerned about the health risks posed by high overnight temperatures, emphasizing that the inability to cool down at night can exacerbate the dangers of daytime heat, making it a silent but deadly threat comparable to tornadoes or storms.
Nights can be just as dangerous as days. If you cannot lower the temperature at night, it will affect your experience during the day and can be very dangerous. You cannot play around with heat; hot temperatures are as dangerous as tornadoes or storms that can kill you very easily, in a different and silent way.
Originally published by Republika in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.