NEW YORK (AP) — A severe and potentially record-breaking weather system is engulfing much of the United States this week, subjecting many areas to dangerously high temperatures under a heat dome, with some locations experiencing triple-digit heat for the first time in over ten years. This heat wave poses a particular risk as it strikes cities such as Boston, New York, and Philadelphia early in the summer, when residents have not yet acclimatized to such intense heat, according to multiple meteorologists. A high-pressure dome above the eastern United States is holding in warm air from the Southwest, which has already caused discomfort in the Midwest. A significant indicator of the high pressure’s intensity set a record on Monday and recorded the third-highest value for that date, leading to what private meteorologist Ryan Maue, a former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, describes as a “near historic” heat wave. Forecasters indicated that the highest temperatures for cities in the Northeast are expected to occur on Tuesday. “It’s going to be really hot, similar to an air fryer,” Maue commented. “This is a three-day period of intense heat that will challenge the resilience of urban residents, particularly those who are most susceptible to severe heat waves.” A heat dome forms when a significant high-pressure zone in the upper atmosphere functions like a container, retaining heat and moisture. A heat wave refers to an extended period of exceptionally high temperatures, typically lasting three days or longer. This phenomenon indicates the areas that will experience the most intense heat. Approximately 75% of the nation’s population, which is about 245 million people, will experience temperatures of 90 degrees Fahrenheit (around 32 degrees Celsius) or more on Monday. Additionally, 703 million individuals, nearly 10% of the population, will endure scorching 100-degree heat (approximately 38 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday, according to Maue. The government’s heat health site indicated that the most severe heat risks are present in areas stretching from Chicago to Pittsburgh and from North Carolina to New York. In these regions, temperatures could reach into the triple digits, and the heat index, worsened by humidity, is particularly concerning in locations where such conditions are rare.
