Heat warnings and watches are in place for nearly 150 million people across 21 states for the holiday period, with dangerous and potentially historic extreme heat expected for the West in the coming days. California cities have experienced record-breaking temperatures, prompting excessive heat warnings for much of the state and surrounding areas. The National Weather Service has warned of potentially life-threatening conditions due to long-duration heat with little to no overnight relief.
In other parts of the country, excessive heat is expected in states like Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona, with temperatures reaching near record-breaking levels. Governor Tina Kotek of Oregon has issued a warning and is working to open cooling centers to combat the heat wave. In Seattle, temperatures are expected to peak in the 90s over the holiday weekend.
Some cities have already canceled or postponed July 4 fireworks events due to the high temperatures and dry conditions that could cause wildfires. Miami has already experienced record-breaking temperatures this year, spending more time above 105 degrees on the heat index than in all of 2019.
The extreme heat also brings an increased risk of wildfires, with 4 million people under Red Flag warnings, mostly in California. Stormy weather is expected across the central U.S., with a risk of severe storms in parts of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. Flash flooding is possible between eastern Kansas and the Ohio Valley, with damaging winds and isolated tornadoes also a concern in some areas.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com