This Heat Wave

Why This Heat Wave Is Particularly Dangerous

By: Madison Alworth

The hottest month of the year just got a whole lot hotter. Most of the U.S. is being blanketed by a scorching heat wave, with temperatures for half of the lower 48 states exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and feeling even hotter.


"If you go anywhere from Virginia up to Maine, there is no region you can find that doesn't feel like 100 degrees," said Andrew Freedman, science editor at Axios.

What's particularly disturbing for climate scientists, is that in some areas, temperatures didn't fall below 80 degrees at night.

"Climate scientists are looking at warming nights, warming faster than days, and that's consistent with climate change," said Freedman.

Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings are in effect thanks to a so-called "heat dome," an unusually intense area of high pressure that keeps regions under its influence sunny and storm-free.

And the longer the heat wave lasts, the more dangerous it gets. This one could extend for most of the month, said Freedman.

"The long duration aspect of it has some public health people a little bit concerned. Because the longer you go with the body under such stress, the more likely it is you'll have heat-related illness and possible health-related deaths," he said.

And while the higher temps might be welcome as you hit the pool or beach this holiday week, heat illnesses are no joke.

"Heat is the number one weather killer in a typical year," explained Freedman.