A punishing heat wave gripping much of the US is hitting its most dangerous point this week, with specialists cautioning that stepping outdoors — or remaining inside a parked car — could become fatal within minutes.
The National Weather Service has placed large swaths of the Northeast, New England, the Mid-Atlantic and the Midwest under an Extreme Heat Warning for Thursday and Friday.
In all, 27 states are forecast to endure triple-digit temperatures, with heat index values climbing above 110 degrees Fahrenheit and potentially breaking records in major cities such as New York City, Philadelphia and Chicago.
The danger is being amplified by oppressive humidity affecting more than 200 million Americans, a combination health experts say can trigger severe, life-threatening symptoms in only minutes if people lack water, shade or cooling.
Dr. Omer Awan, of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, told the Daily Mail: ‘The more humid it is, the less likely we are to sweat, and then that can make us more prone to heat-related illnesses as well.’
‘All these things can happen not in hours, but in minutes if you’re exposed to extreme heat outside.’
The NWS has also cautioned that locked, unattended vehicles can turn deadly in as little as 10 minutes, posing particular risks to children, pets, people with disabilities and those living with chronic medical conditions.
In a statement, the NWS warned: ‘This level of heat can be deadly for those without adequate cooling and hydration. Impacts to transportation infrastructure and electrical and water systems are also possible.’
First responders in New York tend to a pedestrian overcome by the extreme heat on June 12
High heat and humidity are expected to created ‘feels like’ temperatures of more than 110 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Midwest Thursday
In the Northeast, southwest and western Maine, New Hampshire, southern New England, the New York City metro area and parts of central New York and Vermont are expected to see the heat index reach between 100°F and 115°F.
The heat index is the ‘feels like’ temperature, which is hotter when the air is more humid. On a 90-degree day, high humidity can make the ‘feels like’ temperature reach 105°F.
However, forecasters have predicted highs in several major cities, including New York City, nearing 100°F on both Thursday and Friday, potentially pushing the heat index into a lethal zone for many residents.
Washington DC, much of Maryland, northern and central Virginia and parts of eastern West Virginia are expected to see heat indices up to 112°F.
Large parts of Missouri, including Kansas City and St Louis, southern Wisconsin, central Illinois, northern Indiana and parts of Iowa are predicted to reach triple digits and may surpass 110°F during peak heat Thursday afternoon.
Dr Awan expressed concern that the extremely humid conditions throughout the US could lead to a repeat of the deadly heat wave which roasted Europe last month, killing more than 1,300 people since June 21.
‘If the body’s ability to dissipate heat become overwhelmed, and you start to sweat profusely, and you become dehydrated, and you’re losing a lot of volume of fluids. This can happen within minutes,’ Dr Awan said of heat-related deaths.
‘We’re talking about something like heat exhaustion, which is one of the heat-related illnesses, can happen within minutes where you have profuse sweating, you start to have a headache, you may feel dizzy, you may have fatigue, muscle aches.’
The National Weather Service has issued Extreme Heat Warnings in 27 states which are expected to last through Friday
Health officials warn that the conditions inside unattended cars can kill children, pets and the disabled within 10 minutes in temperatures this extreme (Stock Image)
While the heat warnings from NWS vary from state to state, most will run through Friday evening, with some extending into Saturday evening on the Fourth of July.
Many areas will see little overnight relief, with low temperatures staying in the upper 70s and even the 80s, allowing heat to build up during the daytime over multiple days.
‘We’re likely to have more emergency room admissions for heat-related illnesses in the next day or two. That’s why it’s very critical that people get in the shade, avoid the sun,’ Awan urged.
‘Heat stroke is a medical emergency. That is when not only do you have the symptoms that I described, but you start to feel confused, you start to feel agitated, you’re not aware or oriented,’ the doctor continued.
Swan added that in extreme cases, heat stroke sufferers may experience seizures and fall into a coma, leading to death.
Officials with NWS also warned that the extreme heat wave may lead to power outages as the demand for electricity to power air conditioners and fans taxes local power grids.
Multiple government agencies and power companies have advised Americans to cut back on their electricity usage as much as possible during the heat wave.
However, New York City’s mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has been slammed for telling residents to set their air conditioners to an uncomfortable 78°F as an energy-saving tactic.
One critic asked the mayor: ‘What’s the setting for Madison Square Garden for Taylor Swift’s wedding?’
