Millions of Americans are facing extreme heat until this weekend, particularly in New York and Washington, where temperature records have been broken while the heatwave is expected to weigh on the World Cup and the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
A “dangerous, record-breaking heat wave” is hitting the eastern half of the United States, the US Weather Service (NWS) warned, and is expected to last in the heavily populated East Coast through the weekend and the July 4 national holiday. In the capital Washington, the mercury reached 102°F (nearly 39°C) on Thursday, breaking a 128-year-old record for July 2.
In Central Park in New York, the mercury reached 100 Fahrenheit (38 ° C) at 1:51 p.m., with a feeling of 41 ° C, a first since July 2012, according to the meteorological services. Elsewhere in New York, it reached 104F (40°C), a record for July 2. Further north, in Boston, another daily record was recorded with 37°C. Others should be beaten on Friday and Saturday and “monthly or even historical records are possible”, warned the NWS, adding that this heat will be aggravated by air very laden with humidity.
Moist heat due to climate change
The extreme heat and oppressive humidity currently gripping the eastern half of the United States would have been “virtually impossible” without climate change, according to a new study released Friday.
The WWA, which brings together several climate scientists from leading institutions, studied the current heat wave caused by a powerful pressure system in the shape of a “heat dome”. The latter traps hot and humid air, like a lid placed over the center and east of the country, as well as southern Canada. Although such weather phenomena are common, they are now leading to higher temperatures due to climate change.
Daytime temperatures exceed 38 degrees Celsius (100 degrees Fahrenheit), but the feeling is even higher if we take humidity into account. The study also focuses on the values of the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) – wet bulb in French, an index which takes into account heat and humidity – which could break records during this extreme heat wave.
The researchers found that, in a world without climate change, the recorded WBGT values would have been virtually impossible. They would have occurred, at most, once every 5,000 years.
Although a majority of buildings in the United States are equipped with air conditioning and cooling systems, heatwaves kill more people in the country than hurricanes and floods. This heatwave hits several large cities and worries the authorities because of its length and intensity, but also the nighttime temperatures which should bring only “little respite”. In Washington, for example, the mercury is expected to drop to a low of 27°C overnight.
Disrupted events
This heatwave is expected to continue until Saturday and could thus disrupt the celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the United States. The opening to the public of the festivities planned in Washington was postponed from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. due to the heat, and the organizers said in a press release that the water points and medical resources deployed on Saturday at the site would be reinforced. Thunderstorms could also play spoilsport, the NWS warned.
The FIFA World Cup, currently taking place in the United States as well as Canada and Mexico, could also be affected. If some World Cup stadiums are equipped with a roof, air conditioning or both (like those in Atlanta or even Dallas and Los Angeles), many are open air, like that of Philadelphia, where France will face Paraguay on Saturday in the round of 16.
World Cup matches, including France’s July 4 encounter with Paraguay in Philadelphia, are expected to record WBGT temperatures above 82°F (28°C) at kickoff. FIFPRO, the players’ union, has called for the matches to be postponed.
