United States heat wave: which areas are under a heat advisory?

Around forty-million people in the United States are under heat advisory as the country grapples with a severe heat wave.

More than 115 excessive heat warnings and heat advisories have been released by the National Weather Service, which will be active through the end of this week. An excessive heat warning kicks in when temperatures are expected to hit more than 105 degrees F.

Basically all of Texas, aside form the regions along the gulf coast are under a heat advisory or an excessive heat warning. This summer in the Lone Star State, has seen a particularly warm summer, with some cities like Dallas not seeing temperatures under 100 degress F since early July.

Heat Saftey 101

Temperatues could hit as high as 115 degrees in some parts of the country.

Those living in areas with heat advisories and warnings should make sure they are drinking enough water, stay in a room with cool air or air-conditioning, where light cloths, and stay out of the sun. If you are working outside, make sure to wear comfortable cloths that you can stay cool and protected from the sun. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that employers be required ensures their employees take “frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments.”

Threats posed by heat waves for the energy grid

Climate change is here and the threats are very real.

Heat waves are a particularly dangerous weather events that often can bring illness and death if infrastructure is not prepared or fails under the increased stress.

The 2018 National Climate Assessment detailed the threats posed by heat for energy grids, saying that heat waves “drive increases in demand for cooling while simultaneously resulting in reduced capacity and increased disruption of power plants and the electric grid, and potentially increasing electricity prices to consumers.” The majority of public receives electricity through a for profit company which will always pass increased costs along to consumers.

If the energy grid fails, heat related deaths can increase because people are unable to stay cool. The 2018 report also warned that heat related deaths are expected to increase across all regions in the country. Without mitigation strategies to lower emissions, the United States should Climate scientists have already noted the an increase in the frequency of extreme heat events, including heatwaves, and they will only continue if efforts to mitigate emissions are not taken. These heat events will not only be “more frequent,” but more “severe, and longer-lasting,” increasing the risk of a energy black out and power disruptions.