Another Heatwave Hits Parts of the US and Canada

A new heatwave is hitting large parts of the United States and Canada, bringing very high temperatures and unhealthy air. Cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Toronto are all feeling the heat. The dangerous conditions started on Tuesday and are expected to last through at least Wednesday. This comes just weeks after a deadly heatwave over the Fourth of July holiday.

A strong area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere is pushing a dome of hot, humid air eastward across the US and Canada. This kind of weather system traps heat close to the ground and makes temperatures rise quickly. It has already broken all-time temperature records in parts of Montana and Utah. Now that same heat is moving toward the East Coast.

Chicago is expected to hit 97°F (36°C) on Wednesday. New York City could reach 100°F, while Washington, DC, is expecting a high of 102°F. High humidity will make it feel even hotter than those numbers suggest. Some areas could get even warmer, making outdoor activities dangerous.

Millions of people are under heat advisories, meaning officials are warning them to be careful. Heat advisories stretch from Buffalo, New York, all the way to the East Coast. Experts are urging people to drink plenty of water, stay in air-conditioned spaces, and check on elderly neighbors. Young children and older adults are most at risk during extreme heat.

A cold front is on its way to central and eastern Canada, which should bring cooler air in the next few days. However, that same cold front could trigger severe thunderstorms in parts of New England. By the weekend, stormy conditions are expected to spread across much of the eastern part of North America. This will push away the worst of the heat, though temperatures will still stay above normal for the season.

Earlier this month, a heatwave disrupted Fourth of July celebrations across the country. The parade in Washington, DC, was cancelled because of the dangerous heat. More than 165 million people were sweating through record temperatures along the East Coast and Midwest. At least 44 deaths were reported as a result of the heatwave that lasted from July 1 through July 4.

Scientists say heatwaves are becoming more common, more powerful, and longer because of climate change caused by humans. The Earth has already warmed by about 1.1°C since the start of the industrial age, when factories and engines began burning large amounts of fossil fuels. Temperatures will keep rising unless governments around the world make big cuts to the pollution that causes warming. Experts warn that extreme heat events like this one will happen more and more often if action is not taken.