ARLINGTON, Va. − More than 100 million Americans from Chicago to Maine were blanketed under excessive heat advisories, watches or warnings Thursday as the first day of summer ushered in what could be multiple weeks of dangerously hot conditions.
Meteorologists are blaming a heat dome, a powerful high-pressure system that traps hot air over a region and prevents cool air from getting in while causing ground temperatures to remain high.
The searing heat rolling across the northeastern tier will make its way to the mid-Atlantic in coming days. This Washington, D.C., suburb is facing the prospect of 100 degrees by Sunday. High temperatures here are forecast to remain above 90 degrees for the next two weeks.
New England is under siege. The National Weather Service forecast a high of 98 degrees for a second consecutive day in Boston. The same temperature on Wednesday broke a record of 96 degrees for the date that stood for more than 100 years. Worcester, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island, also broke 100-year-old records, and Hartford, Connecticut, was forecast to see 97 degrees, one day after the same temperature broke a record of 95 set in 1995.
"Millions (are) at the mercy of a prolonged stretch of 90-degree Fahrenheit temperature," AccuWeather Meteorologist Renee Duff said. "The longevity of the intense heat will put additional strain on residents and electrical infrastructure."
Developments:
∎ In New York City, Mayor Eric Adams was opening cooling centers − and promoting local parks. "Temperatures are still rising, so find safe ways to stay cool," he said in a social media post. "@NYCParks provide great options from our beautiful beaches to refreshing sprinklers and shady benches."
Alberto makes landfall in Mexico
Tropical Storm Alberto, the first named storm of 2024, made landfall in Mexico and was 25 miles wes ot the Mexican town of Tampico and 255 miles south of Brownsville, Texas, at 8 a.m. ET Thursday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It was rolling west at 13 mph, driving 45 mph winds. Three deaths in Mexico were blamed on the storm. But officials there were also crediting Alberto which delivering much-needed rains to the drought strickent region.
Along with sustained winds near 45 mph, the storm is forecast to dump up to 20 inches across parts of northeast Mexico with nearly a foot of rain expected throughout southern Texas. Such high rainfall totals will likely produce "considerable flash flooding and urban flooding" as well as possible mudslides across northern Mexico, the NHC said.
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