Northeast and Midwest prepare for dangerously hot temperatures and heat dome

Things are about to heat up across much of the U.S., with dangerously high temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast next week, prompting health officials to urge people to make plans now to stay safe.

The heat wave follows an earlier-than-usual one in the Southwest last week that saw triple-digit temperatures in cities like Phoenix, where there were 645 heat-related deaths last year. The world saw record temperatures this yearwith more than three-quarters of the world’s population suffering at least one month of extreme heat.

Last year, the U.S. had the most heat waves — abnormally hot weather that lasted more than two days — since 1936. In the South and Southwest, last year was the worst on record, according to the Oceanic Administration and National Atmospheric.

The next heat wave will increase on Sunday in the center of the country before spreading eastwards, the National Weather Service said, with some areas likely to see extreme heat reaching daily records. The heat wave could last all week and into the weekend in many places. Parts of the country will also see a heat domewhere hot air is trapped in the atmosphere.

Which areas will see extreme heat?

There will be areas of extreme heat — when there is little or no relief overnight — from eastern Kansas to Maine, according to the National Weather Service. thermal risk map. The heat will increase in the Plains states on Sunday, where there will be extreme heat on Monday that will spread eastward into the Great Lakes states and the Northeast.

Temperatures will be in the mid to upper 90s in many areas and will likely reach daily records in the Ohio Valley and Northeast, with the point of water condensation making some areas feel as hot as 105 degrees Fahrenheit, the weather service said.

It will be metro Detroit’s worst heat wave in 20 years or more, with temperatures forecast in the mid-90s and heat indexes around 100 F starting Monday and potentially lasting through the weekend, said the National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag. There’s a chance the area will see its first 100-degree day since July 2012.

Although nighttime temperatures drop into the 70s, providing some relief, the duration of the heat can have a cumulative effect and potentially dangerous effect in the body, Freitag said.

What are the dangers of extreme heat?

Heat-related illnesses can be deadly if not recognized and treated early, and often starts with muscle cramps or spasms, experts say. Heat exhaustion and heatstroke can occur.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating and fatigue; weak pulse; cold, pale, or clammy skin; and headache, dizziness, nausea and fainting. The person should be moved to an air-conditioned place and given sips of water. Loosen clothing and apply cool, damp washcloths or place in a cool bathtub. Seek medical help if they vomit.

A person who experiences heatstroke may experience headache, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and a body temperature above 103 F. They may also have hot, red, dry, or clammy skin; rapid pulse and fainting or losing consciousness. The CDC advises People should call 911 immediately and, while waiting for help, use cold washcloths or a cold shower and take them to an air-conditioned place, but do not give them anything to drink.

A study supported by the National Institutes of Health published in 2023 projected an increase in heat-related deaths from 2036 to 2065 due to rising temperatures.

“Climate change and its many manifestations will play an increasingly important role in the health of communities around the world in the coming decades,” said study lead author Dr. Sameed Khatana, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and staff cardiologist at the Philadelphia Veterans Affairs Medical Center, said in a press release. “Climate change is also a health equity issue, as it will affect certain individuals and populations to a disproportionate degree and could exacerbate pre-existing health disparities in the U.S.”

Young children and babies, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses are especially vulnerable, as are people who cannot move around well or who live alone. The NIH-backed study also said that Black Americans may be at greater risk for heat-related deaths or illnesses.

How can you protect yourself from extreme heat?

Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space and limit outdoor activities during periods of extreme heat, experts said. If you don’t have air conditioning, find out if your community will open cooling centers. But even those with air conditioning should plan ahead in case of a power outage, said Freitag of the National Weather Service. Limit outdoor activities in the morning or, better yet, don’t go outside, he said.

Other tips from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

1. Drink plenty of water and take a cold shower or bath.

2. Wear light, loose clothing and use the stove and oven less.

3. Check on friends and relatives, especially those who don’t have air conditioning.

Communities can also prepare by opening cooling centers in places like schools and libraries. Some also text residents or have hotlines that people can call for help.

In Franklin County, Ohio, the office on aging is distributing ventilators to residents 60 and older, spokeswoman Kristin Howard said.

And some companies whose employees work outside say they will start early to avoid the worst heat.

“When there is this kind of heat, any outdoor activity has to be short-lived (preferably)… in the early morning hours,” Freitag said. “But on the other hand, there really shouldn’t be any physically demanding outdoor activities during the peak of the day.”