Topline
Nearly 160 million people across the U.S. will be under heat-related warnings on Tuesday, as a dangerous and persistent heat wave continues to grip the Western states, leading to a string of record-high temperatures and several deaths.
The western states continue to remain under the grip of a dangerous and persistent heatwave.
Key Facts
According to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System, more than 159.6 million Americans are facing heat-related warnings on Tuesday—accounting for roughly 48% of the country’s population.
In its Tuesday morning update, the National Weather Service said no let-up is expected “to the string of record high temperatures being set across large portions of the West,” as the high-pressure system causing the heat wave remains “locked in place” over the region.
Nearly all of California, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon, Washington state and western Arizona are under some form of excessive heat warnings or advisories and the region may see daily highs between 10 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit above average, the NWS warned.
The temperature in Death Valley, the hottest place in the country, could hit a high of 128 degrees on Tuesday—two days after the temperature in the area touched 129 degrees and tied with the daily record for July 7.
Las Vegas, which is in the midst of a streak of daily temperature records, could see the mercury touch 117 degrees on Tuesday.
Portland and Seattle, which recorded daily temperature records on Monday, will remain under an excessive heat warning and a heat advisory respectively on Tuesday as they brace for even hotter weather.
Key Background
On Monday, local authorities said at least four suspected heat-related deaths were reported across Portland since Friday. All four victims were men, aged 33, 64, 74 and 84. Over the weekend, at least one motorcyclist’s death was attributed to the dangerously high temperatures in Death Valley National Park. The death, however, has done little to dissuade some tourists—both from the U.S. and European travelers—from visiting the national park, the Associated Press reported.
Tangent
Record warm overnight temperatures in the region have compounded the heatwave’s threat, as nighttime has brought little relief for people without reliable air conditioning. Early on Tuesday, the NWS Portland office noted that overnight temperatures in some areas haven’t fallen below 80 degrees. Homes without air conditioning depend on cooler nighttime weather to help bring indoor temperatures down.
Further Reading
Las Vegas Breaks All-Time Heat Record—Here Are The Other Major Heat Records Broken This Summer (Forbes)
