The National Weather Service noted that the duration of this heatwave is remarkable and could be the longest experienced in decades in certain areas.
As the summer solstice coincides with a weeklong heatwave expected to sweep across the East Coast and Midwest, the summer of 2024 is poised to make a scorching entrance.
Major cities including Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, and Albany, New York, are forecasted to endure extreme heat.
Meteorologists predict that the heat could persist beyond Friday, with the Weather Prediction Center emphasizing that this heatwave’s duration could be one of the longest in decades for some regions.
The culprit behind this sweltering weather is a high-pressure system known as an upper-level ridge, currently centered over the Ohio Valley and extending over the Midwest and East Coast. This ridge is expected to bring clear skies, warm, stable air, and temperatures soaring into the 90s and beyond, potentially reaching as high as 105 degrees in some areas.
According to forecasts, temperatures could surge up to 25 degrees above normal across the affected regions under this summer weather system. New temperature records may be set across the Ohio Valley, Lower Great Lakes, northern Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, according to the National Weather Service.
The Pittsburgh office of the National Weather Service has warned that this heatwave “could be the most impactful of the 21st century.” In response, Buffalo Public Schools announced plans to implement half days for four out of the five weekdays, allowing students from pre-K through 8th grade to return home by the end of the lunch hour.
While nights are expected to provide some relief with low temperatures dipping into the upper 60s and 70s across the affected regions, early reports on Monday indicated that 71 million Americans were under a heat advisory or excessive heat watch issued by the National Weather Service.
As the heatwave grips the region, meteorologists also cautioned about potential weather extremes in other parts of the country: flash flooding was anticipated in the Dakotas and Minnesota due to intense rainfall, while parts of Texas and Louisiana could experience rain from systems originating in the Gulf of Mexico, with conditions possibly persisting until Wednesday.
Additionally, the National Weather Service is monitoring the Gulf of Mexico for any signs of tropical storm development, adding another layer of concern amid the intensifying summer weather across the nation.
