A dome of extreme heat that has roasted most of the central United States for the past week is likely to clash with a cold front that might bring flash flooding as the blistering temperatures are set to go much higher — with more records predicted to fall today.
On the formal first day of summer yesterday, many Americans in the central United States were hit hardest by the heat wave, with some locations seeing triple-digit temperatures.
And while though forecasts suggest that certain locations will see more severe heat this week, AccuWeather meteorologists predict that temperatures on the East Coast will drop slightly with the help of approaching thunderstorms as the heat dome moves off to the southeast.
A cold front coming off the Atlantic Ocean in the northeast will push to the southwest on Wednesday afternoon and into the evening, bringing strong winds, rain and probable flash floods on the East Coast.
The heaviest line of storms are forecast to strike the Washington, D.C. area and sections of the East Coast on Wednesday afternoon into the evening, FOX5 said, perhaps impacting the evening commute.
The storm system will be travelling from north to south, and because of this motion, the storm will move slowly. And with the prospect of heavy downpours throughout the evening in some regions, flash flooding is a risk.
According to model predictions, the strongest storms might drop 2-4 inches of rain in dispersed locations, FOX5 reported. Also of concern are multiple storms passing over the same region.
Although no flash flood warnings have been issued as of yet, portions of the East Coast region may receive one by this evening.
People who reside in flood-prone locations should take the necessary precautions, and when driving, always keep in mind the phrase “turn around, don’t drown.”
The majority of the nation is predicted to experience extreme temperatures on Thursday. According to Accuweather, the week’s highs will be 5 to 15 degrees above average.
Dallas, Oklahoma City, Little Rock, Arkansas, and Shreveport, Louisiana are among the cities where temperatures are predicted to hit 100 degrees.
The peak temperature might rise by 5 to 10 degrees in New Orleans. It was reported that the record highs of 101 set in 2009 and 97 set in 2016 may be surpassed this upcoming Friday and Saturday.
“More severe temperatures and humidity will return by the approaching weekend,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Dean DeVore said. “While temperatures and humidity levels moderate a bit by the end of the week in parts of the Midwest.”
The predicted high in St. Louis on Saturday may surpass the previous record of 102 established in 1954. On the same day, temperatures in Nashville may rise over the previous record of 100 established in 1988.
Over the last week, as the heat wave drove temperatures into the 90s and higher, people rushed to swimming pools, beaches, and other cooling facilities throughout the Midwest and South, extending from northern Florida to the Great Lakes.
Over the weekend, some areas of the country, including New Orleans and Mobile, Alabama, experienced record-breaking high temperatures, topping 97F and 100F, respectively, beating Mobile’s previous high of 100F set in 1913.
Local temperatures in Minneapolis and St. Louis, Minnesota, reached about 101F (38C) on Monday, with excessive humidity making it seem more like 110F. (43C).
According to Kare11, two sections of I-35 in the Minneapolis area are currently closed as a result of the Twin Cities’ roads collapsing under the heat.
“MSP has now surpassed the previous record of 98 established in 1933 by reaching 99[F], which is a new daily record! The National Weather Service Twin Cities tweeted on Monday, “Let’s see if we can hit 100.” On that particular day, the area’s heat index rose as high as 105F.
On Monday, northwest Kansas recorded temperatures of 108F (42C). Over the weekend, temperatures in the state’s west and in the Texas panhandle almost reached 110 degrees.
At least 2,000 cattle deaths brought on by high temperatures and humidity were reported last week by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
According to Scarlett Hagins, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Livestock Association, the animals’ deaths represent a significant financial loss because they are valued at about $2,000 per head and typically weigh about 1,500 pounds.
As more people are anticipated to stay indoors and turn on their air conditioners, electric firms in the Southeast said they were prepared to handle the second heat wave this week in affected areas.
“This is our “Super Bowl,” for which we train all year. We’re prepared to leave! Scott Fiedler, a spokesman for the Tennessee Valley Authority, said in a statement to CNN.
Power levels are expected to surge over portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Orleans, and Texas, according to Entergy, a power provider mostly active in states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, and will likely reach previously unheard-of heights.
At Oncor, the fifth-biggest electric utility company in the nation and the largest in Texas, preparations for excessive heat are ongoing throughout the year. More than 10 million Texans are served by it.
According to Elizabeth Barrett, a senior design manager and former assistant district manager, “our maintenance strategy department starts looking at data analytics and identifying areas of vulnerability that we might really be focused on for summer readiness.”
She continued, “We’re looking at any locations that could be overwhelmed.” Transformers that are too full. We continuously use meter data to examine how the additional load might impact those transformers and whether or not those transformers would need to be replaced.
The worst could yet happen. Since circumstances are predicted to be around 100F, nighttime temperatures have been warmer than in recent years, making it difficult to get a full night’s sleep.
The heatwave follows widespread weather conditions last week that affected many different regions of the country, including Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and Montana, where millions of people were affected by triple-digit temperatures and catastrophic flooding.
Additionally, there have been wildfires in Arizona and New Mexico, where Phoenix is seeing temperatures that are closer to 110F than 100F.