(Reuters) – Nearly a quarter of the population in the U.S. is currently under heat warnings, while rain-soaked New England prepares for more downpours, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
The heat warnings extend from the Pacific northwest to California, the Southwest, Deep South, and Florida.
Southern California’s high desert, along with Arizona and Nevada, are expected to experience temperatures over 115 Fahrenheit (46 Celsius). The NWS anticipates widespread record-breaking high temperatures across the Southwest, western Gulf Coast, and south Florida.
Temperatures between 100 F and 110 F are predicted for parts of the Pacific Northwest. This poses a particular danger as many homes lack central air conditioning in this region, based on U.S. Census Bureau data.
A mass of high pressure air sitting atop impacted areas is responsible for the extreme heat in the U.S., preventing rainstorms from providing relief, the NWS explained.
Unfortunately, there is little relief from the heat in sight.
“The combination of sizzling temperatures and high dew points will result in sultry heat throughout the South into the upcoming week,” the NWS stated.
Scientists warn that fossil fuel-driven climate change is leading to more extreme weather events, emphasizing the need to significantly reduce carbon emissions to mitigate the catastrophic effects.
MORE RAINFALL
The NWS anticipates storms with “torrential rainfall” in parts of New England and the Mid-Atlantic areas as a cold front approaches from the west. Major cities like New York, Boston, and Philadelphia are at risk.
“Given that some parts of the Northeast have already experienced heavy rainfall in the past 10 days, this setup is likely to cause significant flash flooding,” the NWS said in a Sunday morning forecast.
The northeast could face impassable roadways, tornadoes, and mudslides in higher terrain areas, according to the NWS.
In Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania, three people were swept away and killed by a flash flood on Saturday. Search and rescue teams are currently looking for three or four people who remain unaccounted for in the region.
Recent days have seen catastrophic flooding in Vermont, particularly in its capital Montpelier, which is under a flash flood warning again on Sunday.
In addition to the northeast, heavy rainfall is expected in some areas of the central plains, middle Mississippi Valley, eastern Texas, portions of Arkansas and Louisiana, and parts of the Gulf Coast, according to the NWS.
(Reporting by Brad Brooks in Lubbock, Texas; Editing by Josie Kao)
Credit: The Star : News Feed
