Washington (United States) (AFP) – Tens of millions of Americans sweltered under furnace-like temperatures Tuesday as central and eastern cities hunkered down for a heat wave set to last through the July 4 holiday weekend. Dozens of local temperature records could be broken, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned, with temperatures in many places surpassing 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) and high humidity pushing the heat index as high as 115 degrees.
This heat wave comes as America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary of independence and as the United States, alongside Canada and Mexico, co-hosts the World Cup soccer tournament amid the extreme heat. Chicago, the nation’s third-largest city, announced it was opening cooling centers and sending city employees to carry out wellness checks on vulnerable populations. In New York, Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office stated it was launching an “unprecedented, historic” plan to deal with the heat, which includes vans to provide residents with hydration as well as “pop-up” cooling stations with misting fans and cooling towels.
Washington, the capital, was forecast to see 100°F temperatures from Thursday through Saturday, coinciding with a fireworks display on the National Mall that organizers claim will be the biggest in history. More than 60 million people are currently under heat alerts, according to the NWS. Health agencies are urging citizens to watch for signs of heat-related illness, ranging from cramps and exhaustion to life-threatening heat stroke. Child hot-car deaths are another concern, with nine such deaths reported so far this year in the United States, an alarming figure compared to an average of 37 annually, according to the National Safety Council.
Pets are also at risk, with authorities recommending that dogs remain indoors except for bathroom breaks and warning owners to be cautious of hot asphalt that can burn their paws. In World Cup news, numerous knockout-stage matches will be played under oppressive heat, including France vs. Sweden at New York New Jersey Stadium and Norway vs. Côte d’Ivoire in Dallas on Tuesday. The weather has already affected gameplay: France was forced to endure a two-hour storm delay during its group-phase match against Iraq. Additionally, two group-stage matches were held in temperatures exceeding the threshold at which the global players’ union recommends that games be postponed or delayed, while dozens of fans have been treated for heat illness in Houston and Miami.
© 2024 AFP
