High Temps Place a Third of US in Dangerous Heat Conditions

More than 111 million in the US sizzled under dangerously high temps Tuesday. A heat dome stretching from Texas to New York pushed temps into triple digits in at least 17 states.  

Forecasters predicted a western heat wave will extend through the third week of July. Hot and dry weather in recent days has claimed three lives in Utah parks. It has also sparked wildfires. So far, they have scorched 207,000 acres in California this year. That’s 20 times more than during the same period in 2023. 

“We are not just in a fire season, but we are in a fire year,” Joe Tyler told reporters. He's a top California fire official.  

In Houston, as many as 250,000 people suffered through their eighth straight day without power after Hurricane Beryl struck the state. The heat index there on Tuesday hovered at 106. People continued to sleep in cars. Some have moved into hotels. And many have had to toss spoiled food from their refrigerators. Republican Governor Greg Abbott demanded answers from CenterPoint. It's a utility that serves the region. Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee called for a federal investigation into the company for its failures.  

Cities facing the high heat put in place plans to deal with it. The city of Jacksonville, Florida, opened “cooling centers” at community centers. It faced its third straight day under a heat advisory. The city also offered free bus travel to people wishing to go to one.

Heat advisories and emergencies were also announced in a number of cities. Those included New York and Philadelphia. Cooler temperatures in those cities and elsewhere in the East are forecast for later this week.  

Reflect: How do you stay cool and safe during extremely hot weather, and what advice would you give to others?