'Dominating the entire country': Unrelenting, coast-to-coast heat wave scorches US
An unrelenting heat wave roasted the USA Wednesday, when alerts were in place in 28 states from California to New Hampshire.
Temperatures 5 to 15 degrees above average "are dominating the entire country," said Weather.com meteorologist Domenica Davis.
Approximately 100 million people were under an excessive heat warning or heat advisory Wednesday afternoon, the National Weather Service said.
An excessive heat warning "is reserved for only the hottest days of the year and is issued when temperatures are expected to rise to dangerous levels," the weather service said.
About 200 million Americans are forecast to see temperatures in the 90s or higher for the next three days, according to Weather.com.
Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect this morning throughout 28 states, stretching from California to New Hampshire. High temperatures into the 90s and 100s will increase the risk of heat related illnesses. For heat safety tips, visit: https://t.co/L4FyvSS6lj pic.twitter.com/rFmVCKxDSV
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) July 20, 2022
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Heat wave hits New York, Boston
The heat wave extends into the Northeast, AccuWeather said, where New York City will see highs topping 90 degrees for at least the next five days. This heat wave could be the longest in nearly a decade for the city.
The last time New York City strung together seven consecutive days with highs of 90 or greater was July 14-20, 2013, AccuWeather said.
Boston, Philadelphia and Washington will also see several days of temperatures in the 90s. Areas in the Interstate-95 corridor from Virginia to Massachusetts will see 90-degree days possibly extending into next week, according to AccuWeather.
Southern scorcher: Southern Plains epicenter of heat
The southern Plains is at the center of the extraordinary heat, meteorologists said. According to the Capital Weather Gang, Dallas, Oklahoma City and Tulsa could all approach 110 degrees in the days ahead. "For the first time on record, every one of the Oklahoma’s network of 120 weather stations hit 103 degrees on Tuesday," the Capital Weather Gang said.
The Weather Service said that "temperatures will likely remain above normal across most of the region for the next several days."
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Wildfire threat in Texas and Oklahoma
Near-record and record temperatures combined with breezes gusting as high as 30 mph and drought conditions have left the southern Plains ripe for fire, the U.S. Forest Service said.
The National Weather Service issued a red flag fire warning for northern and central Texas and western and eastern Oklahoma for Wednesday.
A red flag warning means that weather conditions, such as high heat, low humidity and strong winds, along with dry vegetation, provide the perfect mix for wildfires that could rapidly grow out of control.
Contributing: The Associated Press
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Heat wave scorches US from coast to coast