All articles tagged with #heat wave
Thousands in Long Beach lost power as a heat-wave week began, with about 22,066 customers affected at the outage’s peak. By Monday morning, crews had restored power to many, but roughly 14,057 customers remained without service, after about 8,000 were restored by 11 p.m. Sunday. The outage was tied to equipment problems, and a nearby vault fire prompted firefighters to respond as crews worked to restore service amid rising temperatures.
Miami tied its all-time high of 100°F on Tuesday amid a broad Southeast heat wave driven by a stalled heat dome. The day featured dangerously high heat indices (up to 107°F) and follows research showing rising extreme heat days in the region, with Climate Central noting Miami now experiences far more hot and humid days than in the 1970s; forecasters warn more hot days are on the way across Florida.
July 2026 was the hottest month on record in the United States, with an average of 76.9°F—3.3°F above the 20th‑century average. Overnight temperatures drove the record, all 48 contiguous states posted above‑average temperatures, and Wyoming recorded its warmest July ever. Rainfall was generally below average and wildfire activity remained high; globally, July was among the warmest on record, aided by El Niño. The NOAA outlook for August suggests continued above‑average heat across the central and southern U.S. and elevated wildfire potential.
North Korean state media is touting cooling foods like dog-meat soup and samgyetang to cope with a heat wave, while portraying Kim Jong Un as enduring the heat alongside ordinary citizens; temperatures hit 36.7C (98.1F), the hottest on record, with coverage blending health tips and tourism updates and reinforcing a propaganda narrative of the leader’s perseverance, though no official heat-death data has been released.
Amid a record heat wave in Pyongyang, state media promoted dog-meat soup (dangogi) as a traditional summer remedy, described as nutritious medicine to cope with heat; the promotion ties to long-held beliefs that heat cures heat and positions dog meat as a national staple, even as outside observers react to the controversy of the endorsement.
Cuba is dealing with its sixth nationwide power outage of 2026, with three outages in July, as residents endure extreme heat and limited air conditioning; the U.S. Embassy in Havana warned Americans to expect disruptions while officials review the aging grid and fuel shortages. U.S. travel to Cuba remains restricted to specific categories under OFAC, with advisories urging travelers to prepare for outages.
A brutal Western U.S. heat wave pushed temperatures to record highs (Phoenix reached 116°F on Aug. 1, tying the city’s Aug. 1 record and coming close to the region’s all-time high) and spurred wildfire activity with evacuations in Spokane as the Old Trails Fire grew to about 2,300 acres. Southern California faced days of extreme heat with health warnings, while Montana’s Great Falls and Helena also set daily records. Officials warned about heat illness and urged limited outdoor activity, staying in air conditioning, and never leaving people or pets in cars. The extreme conditions are driven by a persistent high-pressure system and tropical moisture, with heat expected to ease later in the week.
A massive heat dome is enveloping much of the central and eastern U.S., with more than 42 million people under heat alerts. Temperatures in some locations climb toward 100–120°F, including a 119°F reading near Tecopa, California, and heat index values around 120°F in parts of the Southwest. The National Weather Service warns the heat is dangerous and urges hydration and cooling, while relief is expected by the end of the week as a cold front moves in.
Palm Desert residents are questioning a planned 10 p.m.–7 a.m. maintenance outage affecting about 878 customers near Fred Warning Drive and Monterey Avenue during a heatwave; SCE says the outage is needed to keep the grid reliable and will come with advance notices. The outage was later rescheduled to August 9 at 10 p.m. due to customer concerns. Residents are taking precautions (dry ice for perishables, cooler sleeping arrangements) and are advised to check SCE’s outage map and prepare with flashlights, water and backup plans.
A high-pressure heat dome will push from the Texas Panhandle into the Southwest this week, lifting temperatures into the 100s and 110s, boosting wildfire risk and smoke across the West and into Canada, with air quality concerns especially in the Northwest and nearby regions.
The Bay Area is set for its hottest stretch yet, with inland temperatures potentially over 100°F this weekend, but the bigger danger is hazardous surf from distant hurricanes that has already prompted water rescues. Forecasters warn of sneaker waves and strong rip currents, urging people to stay out of the water and off jetties, while dry conditions elevate wildfire risk inland.
Heat waves across the US are straining electricity grids as households crank up AC and a data-center boom maintains around‑the‑clock power demand. Regional operators like PJM, MISO, and SPP have issued emergency alerts amid record July demand (about 168 GW) and aging transmission gear, with humidity and climate change extending peak loads into the evening. While Texas adds renewables and avoids an energy emergency, capacity auctions have fallen short and major investments in generation and transmission—potentially in the trillions—are needed to shore up reliability for the next decade and beyond.
Public Health France says France recorded roughly 5,700 excess deaths during an unprecedented early-summer heat wave, with the Paris region hardest hit and those 75+ accounting for about two-thirds of the toll; temperatures topped 104°F in many areas, and the event marked the highest heat-related excess mortality in more than two decades as Europe-wide deaths also rose.
England’s record heat wave is reshaping The Open at Royal Birkdale, with record temperatures and unusual winds drying the links into a firm, fast, and unpredictable test. Course staff are watering sparingly to protect turf while preserving a linksy feel, and even quirky features like the donut-shaped bunker near the 7th become tougher in the heat. With no rain forecast for days, the setup favors patient, strategic play, as Jackson Suber opened with a 65 to lead after Round 1 and the field adapts to the hot, wind-influenced conditions.
POLITICO estimates at least 14,000 excess deaths across six Western European countries during the June heat wave (June 18–July 1), with Germany, France and Belgium hardest hit; EuroMOMO data show about 10,650 excess deaths across 27 countries in late June. Scientists say the deaths are largely linked to human-caused warming from fossil fuels, though official tallies are still being refined.