Record Heat Wave Hits America Before Summer Even Starts

A dangerous heat wave is hitting parts of America this weekend, even though summer doesn't officially start until June 21. About 26 million people across the West, Plains, and Southeast will face extreme heat. Weather experts say temperatures will feel like the hottest part of summer. The heat is much hotter than normal for mid-June.

Some cities will see very high temperatures this weekend. Places like Raleigh and Wilmington in North Carolina, Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, and Tallahassee in Florida could reach 108 degrees. Other cities like Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and Tulsa, Oklahoma, will also be very hot. Most areas will have temperatures in the 90s, which is 5 to 10 degrees hotter than usual for this time of year.

The West Coast is also getting ready for rising temperatures. California, Oregon, and Washington will see highs that are 10 to 25 degrees above normal. Temperatures will range from the 80s to over 100 degrees across these states. Cities like Bakersfield and Redding in California, Portland in Oregon, and Seattle all have heat warnings in place.

Heat isn't the only danger this weekend. Severe thunderstorms are also a big threat across the country. Storm watches are active until 3 p.m. on Saturday for parts of Nebraska, Iowa, and Missouri. About 20 million more people face the risk of strong storms this weekend.

Scientists think some of these temperature changes might be linked to El Niño. El Niño is a natural climate pattern that warms ocean temperatures in the tropical Pacific. When El Niño happens, it can make the warming from climate change even stronger. This combination can lead to more extreme weather events like the heat wave happening now.