- “Above-average temperatures are dominating the entire country.”
- Heat alerts are in place across 28 states from California to New Hampshire.
- Some 200 million Americans are forecast to see temperatures in the 90s or higher for the next three days.
An unrelenting heat wave continued to roast the US on Wednesday, with heat alerts in place across 28 states from California to New Hampshire.
“Above-average temperatures are dominating the entire country,” said weather.com meteorologist Domenica Davis, who added that temperatures are running about 5 to 15 degrees above average.
In all, approximately 100 million people were under an excessive heat warning or heat advisory Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.
An excessive heat warning “is reserved for only the hottest days of the year and is issued when temperatures are expected to rise to dangerous levels,” the Weather Service said.
Some 200 million Americans are forecast to see temperatures in the 90s or higher for the next three days, according to Weather.com.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HEAT:From the heat index to a heat dome to an excessive heat warning
Heat wave hits New York, Boston
The heat wave will extend into the Northeast, AccuWeather predicted, where New York City will see highs topping 90 degrees for at least the next five days. This lengthy heat wave could be the longest in nearly a decade for the city.
The last time New York City strung together seven consecutive days with highs of 90 or greater was July 14-20, 2013, AccuWeather said.
Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, will also see several days of temperatures in the 90s. Areas in the Interstate-95 corridor from Virginia to Massachusetts will see even more 90-degree days this week, possibly extending into next week, according to AccuWeather.
Southern scorcher: Southern Plains epicenter of heat
The southern Plains continues to be the epicenter of the extraordinary heat, meteorologists said. According to the Capital Weather Gang, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa could all approach 110 degrees in the days ahead. “For the first time on record, every one of the Oklahoma’s network of 120 weather stations hit 103 degrees on Tuesday,” the Capital Weather Gang said.
The Weather Service said that “temperatures will likely remain above normal across most of the region for the next several days.”
HEAT EXHAUSTION VS. HEAT STROKE:How to recognize warning signs and tips to keep cool
Wildfire threat in Texas and Oklahoma
A combination of near-record and record temperatures combined with breezes gusting as high as 30 mph and drought conditions have left the southern Plains ripe for fire, the US Forest Service said.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag fire warning for northern and central Texas and western and eastern Oklahoma for Wednesday.
A red flag warning means that weather conditions, such as high heat, low humidity and strong winds, along with dry vegetation, are providing the perfect mix for wildfires that could rapidly grow out of control.
Contributing: The Associated Press
www.usatoday.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism