A record-breaking US heat wave scorches the Midwest and Northeast, prompting safety measures – Hartford Courant

By JOHN SEEWER and PATRICK ORSAGOS (Associated Press)

TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) — Stifling heat blanketed tens of millions of people in the United States on Tuesday, forcing people and even zoo animals to find ways to cool off as summer arrives in what promises to be a sweltering week.

Extreme heat warnings extended Tuesday from Iowa to Ohio and even into upper Michigan, canceling youth sports camps, nature walks and festivals across the region. The National Weather Service said the dangerous heat wave is expected to work its way through the country and Maine until at least Friday.

An organization that delivers produce to areas with limited access to fresh food in Columbus, Ohio, has prepared frozen towels for their employees in case of overheating and packed cold water to stay hydrated.

“Hydration is key,” says Monique McCoy, market manager for the Local Matters Veggie Van.

In Toledo, Ohio, the city canceled a weekly fitness event and a neighboring suburb canceled a street fair as temperatures reached the mid-90s. An upstate New York food bank canceled deliveries for Wednesday out of concern for its staff and volunteers.

Schools in New York on Tuesday canceled field trips to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo in Syracuse, where workers turned on water misters for visitors and the animals. Elephants and other animals developed chunks of ice in their pools, said Ted Fox, zoo director.

“Most species love it,” Fox said. “Even the tigers like to lick the ice and lay their heads on it when it’s so hot.”

Cities that opened cooling centers this week said some public libraries, senior centers and swimming pools where residents could beat the heat will be closed Wednesday for the Juneteenth holiday.

The explosion of extreme temperatures before the official start of summer came a little too soon for many.

“This is hot because it’s just getting into summer, so I hope we’ll see a downward trend in temperatures here soon because this is hot,” said Krista Voltolini, who was selling produce at a farmer’s house. market in Columbus.

A recent study found that climate change is causing heat waves to move more slowly and affect more people for longer periods of time. Last year, the US experienced the most heat waves – abnormally warm weather that lasted more than two days – since 1936.

Chicago broke a temperature record set in 1957 on Monday with a high of 97 degrees Fahrenheit (36.1 degrees Celsius). Hot and muggy conditions will continue this week with peak heat indexes near 100 F (37.7 C) at times, the National Weather Service in Chicago said in a post on the social platform X.

Much of the Midwest and Northeast were under heat warnings or watches, with officials urging people to limit outdoor activities where possible and contact family members and neighbors who may be vulnerable to the heat.

In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul activated the National Guard to assist with any heat emergencies that might develop in the coming days. She also said admission and parking fees at state parks, pools and beaches will be waived on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“This is a time of significant risk and we are doing our best to ensure all lives are protected,” Hochul said Tuesday.

In Massachusetts, the 911 system was disrupted for nearly two hours Tuesday afternoon as heat and humidity made it feel more than 100 degrees in some places. The state Public Safety and Security Executive Office said in a post on X that the cause of the outage was under investigation.

In California, wildfires broke out east of San Francisco in the state’s historic Gold Country region and in the mountains of northern Los Angeles County after a quiet start to the fire season. Wildfires in southern New Mexico on Tuesday damaged 500 buildings in a mountain town of 7,000 that was evacuated with little time to spare.

While much of the US is sweltering, late-season snow was forecast for the northern Rockies, with parts of Montana and north-central Idaho under winter storm warnings until Tuesday. As much as 20 inches (51 centimeters) was forecast for higher elevations around Glacier National Park.

Meanwhile, a new load of tropical moisture brought an increasing threat of heavy rains and flash flooding to the central Gulf Coast. This year’s hurricane season is predicted to be one of the most active in recent memory.

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Orsagos reported from Columbus. Michael Hill in Albany, New York, contributed.

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