August Forecast Calls for More Record Heat. When Will It Stop?

Hot, dangerous temperatures are expected to cover much of the United States through mid-August, according to NOAA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The heat is especially fierce in the Southwest, where temperatures could reach between 110 and 120 degrees on August 1 and 2. Even overnight temperatures are staying unusually warm, which makes it harder for people's bodies to cool down. This puts millions of Americans at risk of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstroke.

The heat is expected to spread northward into Colorado, Utah, and Montana, where temperatures will climb into the 100s. Weather forecasters say that when nights stay hot, the human body doesn't get a chance to recover from the daytime heat. This makes the situation more dangerous, especially for elderly people, young children, and people who work outside. NOAA's National Weather Service is urging people to stay cool, drink water, and check on their neighbors.

By the end of the first week of August, high pressure in the atmosphere is expected to push extreme heat from the West into the central and eastern parts of the country. Much of the lower 48 states could see at least some risk of extreme heat from August 7 to 13. The eastern Ohio Valley, Appalachians, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic regions may feel intense warmth from August 5 to 11. While the heat may not be as extreme as early July in those areas, high humidity could still make conditions feel very uncomfortable.

There is some good news for people in the eastern part of the country. Senior meteorologist Bob Smerbeck of AccuWeather says a strong cold front may follow the heat wave, bringing some relief to those regions. The coast-to-coast heat is expected to start breaking later in August, with cooler, more normal weather arriving in the Northeast. However, much of the rest of the country is still expected to stay warmer than usual even then.

Wildfires are also a serious concern in the West. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center has placed the highest possible fire danger warning across eastern Washington, where wind gusts of up to 50 mph could help fires spread very quickly. More than 25,000 firefighters and support workers are already battling 87 large fires across the nation, mostly in the Northwest. The National Interagency Fire Center has raised the wildfire system to its highest level of readiness.

People enjoying beaches also need to be careful this month. Along the California coast, a tropical storm called Genevieve is creating dangerous waves and strong rip currents. Beaches along the south and southwestern shores of Lake Michigan in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin also face life-threatening conditions. The weather service warned that waves on Lake Michigan could reach up to 9 feet high in Cook County, Illinois.

July was already a record-smashing month for heat across the United States. More than 130 all-time high temperature records were broken in July, and more than 180 records were set for the hottest overnight low temperatures. One remarkable record was set at Lewis Lake Divide in Yellowstone National Park, where the temperature hit 102 degrees on July 24, breaking the old record by 8 full degrees. Many other records were broken in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, the High Plains, and the Northeast.

As for the hurricane season, forecasters say things are quiet for now. No new storms are expected in the Eastern Pacific during the first five days of August, and the Atlantic hurricane zone also looks calm for early August. Scientists believe a weather pattern called El Niño, which could be one of the strongest ever recorded, is helping to keep hurricane activity low this summer. Even so, forecasters are watching the Southwest Atlantic and the coast of Mexico for possible storm development in mid-August.