The summer of 2024 is starting off with a heatwave expected for the East Coast and Midwest, coinciding with the seasonal solstice on Thursday. Cities such as Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, and Albany, New York are forecasted to experience extreme heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 105 degrees in some areas. The heatwave is expected to last through Friday and potentially beyond, making it one of the longest heatwaves experienced in decades for some locations.
The high temperatures are due to a high-pressure system called an upper-level ridge that is expanding over the Ohio Valley and into the Midwest and East Coast. This system is expected to bring clear skies, warm, stable air, and record-breaking temperatures in the 90s and beyond. Some areas are expected to see temperatures 25 degrees above normal under this summer system, potentially setting new temperature records in the Ohio Valley, Lower Great Lakes, northern Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast regions. The National Weather Service office for Pittsburgh has even suggested that this could be the most impactful heatwave of the 21st century.
In response to the extreme heat, Buffalo Public Schools has announced that it will implement half days for four out of the five days of the week. This schedule will allow pre-K through 8th grade students to go home by the end of the lunch hour to escape the high temperatures. While the days are expected to be scorching, the nights are likely to provide some relief with low temperatures dipping into the upper 60s and 70s across the affected areas. As of early Monday, the National Weather Service had issued heat advisories or excessive heat watches for 71 million Americans, with separate sections of the nation also experiencing extreme weather conditions.
On the northwest side of the heatwave, there is a risk of flash flooding in the Dakotas and Minnesota, while on the southwest side, rain is expected to push in from the Gulf of Mexico into parts of Texas and Louisiana, possibly continuing through Wednesday. The weather service is also monitoring the Gulf for any potential tropical storms that may develop in the coming days. With temperatures soaring well above normal and records potentially being broken, residents in the East Coast and Midwest regions are advised to take precautions to stay safe and cool during this intense heatwave.
