In the course of nearly three months and counting, heat waves have passed over the continental United States and the rest of the world all originating from one atmospheric condition called a “heat dome” that is currently hovering over the northern hemisphere. Staggering temperatures have caused the majority of the Southern US to live under extreme heat index warnings and broken records. Over these past weeks, more than 116 million Americans are dealing with extreme heat advisories (more than a third of the country) and officials are warning of millions of heat-related illnesses such as heat stroke, sunburn, and extreme dehydration for those affected- especially those working outdoors. This heat has continued to break records worldwide in China, Italy, and here in Las Vegas, Corpus Christi, etc. and shows no sign of stopping any time soon.
Another wave is set to intensify heat across the country as a high pressure system of hot, dry air is sinking and sprawling across the nation from coast to coast. On the bright side of all this, as long as this high pressure system remains in place- the probability of an active hurricane season is very low. That is not to say however that this wave is an entirely good thing, in fact it has been so sporadic and unpredictable that at this point all we can do is wait it out and follow the advice of meteorologists to beat the heat.
We have seen the effects of these heat advisories that we are living under first hand these past few weeks. For instance, last week broke multiple daily and weekly high temperature records for this time of year, consequently our lives are forced to adapt around these dangerously high temperatures. Just this past Saturday night for example, the varsity football game was postponed from six to eight pm to coincide with district heat advisories and ensure that the game could be played in as safe a condition as possible (that said, it was still nearly a hundred degrees even at that time of night).
