Damage Spreads Across the U.S. East Coast
as "Heat Dome" Phenomenon Persists
The United States is also suffering from a scorching heatwave. The heatwave that had blanketed the central region has now moved east, placing the entire Northeast, including New York, under extreme heat conditions. The National Weather Service (NWS) has forecast that 100 million people will be exposed to the intense heat this weekend.
According to Yonhap News on July 26, citing the British daily The Guardian, the NWS has issued heat advisories for the entire northeastern coastal region of the United States, stretching from Portland, Maine to Wilmington, North Carolina.
On the 25th (local time), when the perceived temperature in Brooklyn, New York, USA is expected to exceed at least 38 degrees Celsius, people are crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. Photo by Yonhap News
In some areas, the daytime heat index is expected to be about 5 to 8 degrees higher than the seasonal average, and tropical nights are also anticipated. The heat index is a figure that takes both temperature and humidity into account, representing the apparent temperature felt by humans.
The NWS predicted that the heat index in New York City, New York, would reach 41 degrees Celsius in the afternoon of July 26. This is slightly higher than the typical temperatures recorded in Phoenix, Arizona, which is often considered the hottest major city in the United States. On the same day, the apparent temperature in the southeastern United States is expected to exceed 46 degrees Celsius.
The NWS classifies a heat index of 26.7 to 32.2 degrees Celsius as "Caution," 32.2 to 39.4 degrees as "Extreme Caution," and 39.4 to 51.1 degrees as "Danger." In effect, most cities along the U.S. East Coast are experiencing heatwaves at the "Danger" level.
The ongoing heat in the United States is due to phenomena such as a high-pressure system remaining stationary, causing hot air to become trapped like a dome and preventing it from moving?commonly referred to as a "heat dome." Heat advisories are still in effect from Oklahoma in the central region to West Virginia.
In the Midwest, where corn is predominantly grown, and in some southern states, the phenomenon known as "corn sweat" is making the heat even more intense. Oxygen and water vapor are released from the stomata on the undersides of corn leaves, which increases the humidity in the air and significantly raises the apparent temperature. Because of this, meteorologists have warned that there is a high possibility of sudden flooding in most areas from northeastern Kansas to Indiana.
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