WASHINGTON: US weather authorities have issued an extreme heat warning as a dangerous heatwave is expected to grip large parts of the country, following record-breaking temperatures across Europe.
The US National Weather Service said temperatures could reach 38°C (100°F) across parts of the central and eastern United States this week. Heat levels are expected to remain well above seasonal averages in many areas.
The current heatwave is forecast to persist for several days. Peak conditions are expected on Friday, when the U.S. Independence Day holiday period begins.
Forecasters said dozens of cities could see daily temperature records broken or matched between Tuesday and Saturday.
According to US media, extreme heat remains the country’s deadliest weather-related hazard. Official data show that more people die from heat each year than from tornadoes, hurricanes, and lightning combined.
The National Weather Service also warned that the risk of wildfires has increased significantly across large parts of the western United States because of the prolonged hot and dry conditions. Emergency agencies have been placed on high alert.
Meanwhile, Europe remains in the grip of an intense heatwave. High temperatures are expected to continue across several countries for at least another week.
Recent reports indicate that more than 1,300 excess deaths were recorded across Europe in the past week alone. Nearly 1,000 of those deaths were reported in France, while more than 300 were recorded in Spain.
Red heat alerts have also been issued for several cities in Italy. Rail and other transport services have been disrupted in France, Germany and Italy because of the extreme weather.
The World Health Organization said Europe is warming at nearly twice the global average rate. Around 150 million people are currently being affected by extreme heat across the continent.
The agency said climate change and global warming are making heatwaves more frequent and more intense. It added that much of Europe’s infrastructure is not fully prepared to cope with such extreme temperatures.
