Millions of Americans from New York to California are being warned to stay out of the sun for the rest of the week as a nationwide heatwave starts broiling the US in hours.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has already issued Heat Advisories in 14 states, warning that the heat index this week, especially on Thursday and Friday, will soar past 100°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.
In the Northeast, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Vermont and parts of eastern Pennsylvania will see extreme humidity push the heat index as high as 103°F.
The same dangerous conditions are expected to bake Indiana, Michigan and Ohio starting Wednesday afternoon, with forecasters at AccuWeather revealing that humid air is flooding into the center of the country from the Gulf of America.
In the South, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas will suffer the brunt of the heat surge, with ‘feels like’ temperatures expected to hover between 105 and 108°F on Wednesday and Thursday.
Meanwhile, large portions of Central California, the Sacramento Valley and the Bay Area could see temperatures soar to 105°F from Thursday into the weekend.
NWS officials said: ‘Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Take extra precautions when outside.’
Pictured: Beachgoers enjoy the warm weather in Seaside Heights, New Jersey on April 15 (Stock Image)
The extreme heat index readings are expected to strike the Midwest starting Wednesday afternoon, with advisories issued in Indiana, Michigan and Ohio
The ‘feels like’ temperature across the Northeast is expected to reach 100 degrees by Thursday
High heat index values can lead to heat-related illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Since humid air is already full of moisture, sweat evaporates much more slowly. That means your body cannot cool down well and it feels hotter than the actual thermometer says.
Elderly adults, children, those with chronic health issues, and those without air conditioning are expected to be at the greatest risk during the widespread humidity-induced heatwave.
For Thursday and Friday, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson said: ‘Some daily record highs may be set for multiple days in multiple locations.’
While tens of millions of Americans live in areas where the NWS has issued heat advisories, starting at noon on Wednesday, meteorologists said that the massive heat surge will have a much more widespread impact on the US.
Daily temperature records in Maryland and North Carolina are also expected to fall on Friday, with AccuWeather forecasters predicting it will reach 99°F in Raleigh, breaking a record that has lasted since 2002.
‘Feels like’ temperatures are predicted to soar beyond 100 degrees in Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas on Friday.
Overall, warmer and more humid air is expected to make things unbearably hot for more than 200 million people across more than 27 states, from Colorado to New York and from the Gulf Coast to the Canadian border.
Pictured: A group of young women enjoy the heat and sun in New York’s Central Park during April’s surprise heatwave (Stock Image)
Most of the US is predicted to feel warmer and more humid conditions throughout the week, leading to heat warnings in at least 14 states
In areas exceeding 90 degrees this week, Americans may need to take action immediately if they experience symptoms of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion often starts with heavy sweating, fatigue, developing cool, pale, clammy skin and a fast, weak pulse, muscle cramps, dizziness, nausea and headaches.
As for heat stroke, which is far more deadly and can develop within 15 minutes in extreme conditions, the first symptoms are often a throbbing headache, confusion, slurred speech, nausea, dizziness, and a fever above 103°F.
Sufferers may also develop red, dry, or damp skin, a rapid pulse, and lose consciousness.
Move anyone affected by these conditions into a cool, shaded spot right away and call 911.
A woman cools off along the National Mall in Washington, DC amid the blistering heat in April (Stock Image)
At the same time as heat and humidity threaten several states starting Wednesday afternoon, forecasters have also warned of a severe threat from extreme thunderstorms breaking out in the Upper Midwest.
AccuWeather’s Lead Long-Range Meteorologist, Paul Pastelok, warned that these storms, known as supercells, could deliver flooding rains, large hailstones and even isolated tornadoes across Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Michigan.
Pastelok said: ‘Thunderstorms in parts of this zone are likely to persist through Wednesday night.’
‘Major cities at risk for severe thunderstorms and significant travel delays include Minneapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Kansas City, Missouri and Des Moines, Iowa.’
