More than 1,000 flights have been canceled across the United States as the East Coast and nearly 120 million Americans are hit by severe thunderstorms on Monday.
The storm system is heading east after hitting the Ohio River Valley on Sunday, bringing potentially severe weather to areas east of the Mississippi River and will likely include high winds and large hail in addition showers and even possible tornadoes.
The worst affected areas are likely to be in the mid-Atlantic region, including southern Pennsylvania and New Jersey, Baltimore, New York and Washington, DC.
An area stretching from northern Alabama to southern New York, which includes Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina and Binghamton, New York, has been placed at increased risk of severe storms.
“In areas with thunderstorms, severe weather and flash flooding will pose a threat,” the National Weather Service said.
Storm forecast map for the United States on Monday, August 8. Severe weather conditions are expected along the east coast
Over the weekend, there were about 280 reports of severe storms across the country, including eight tornadoes.
Across the Central Plains and the Mississippi River Valley, there were nearly 100 more reports of strong winds, as well as reports of large hail.
As the East braces for summer storms, southern states from Florida to California continue to face dangerous heat this week.
“Numerous record highs and morning record lows are likely over the next few days, with no end in sight in the latter part of this week,” the National Weather Service said.
Heat warnings and advisories have been in effect across the southern United States for several weeks and will likely remain in effect “for the foreseeable future as there is no relief in sight for the heat for the remainder of the week. in these areas,” the weather service said.
Record-breaking heat waves have descended on states ranging from Louisiana and Mississippi to Nevada, Texas and California this summer.
Austin, Texas hit 105 degrees on Sunday, marking the 30th straight day with a high temperature of over 100 degrees.
Albuquerque, New Mexico, hit a high of 102 on Saturday — the hottest August day the city has ever seen.
In New Orleans, Louisiana, city officials have warned that extremely high humidity levels will mean temperatures will “like” 115 degrees or more. Cooling centers were opened for residents without adequate means to protect themselves from the heat.
“The excessive heat warning scheduled for Monday, August 7 will mark the 17th excessive heat warning issued for 2023 so far, breaking the previous record of five warnings in 2021,” city officials said.
Phoenix, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico had some of their hottest days on record last week, with the heat wave expected to continue for the next few days.
Residents of Texas, Louisiana, Arizona, New Mexico and California have found ways to cool off amid record high temperatures this summer
In the Dallas-Forth Worth area of Texas, the scorching heat wave is expected to last at least another week.
Like Austin, Dallas has seen temperatures 100 degrees warmer every day since July 24.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning across North Texas through 8 p.m. Monday. Heat index values should peak around 114 degrees.
A warm front is then expected to arrive on Tuesday, raising temperatures again mid-week.
Most of the state’s electric grid operator, ERCOT, issued a “weather watch” for Sunday and Monday “due to higher forecasted temperatures, higher electricity demand and the potential for more reserves. weak”.
According grid dataElectricity demand soared to all-time highs for several days during this heat wave – peaking last Tuesday at 83,593 megawatts.
