The U.S. has been facing relentless temperatures this summer, and a map from NASA reveals the severity of these persistent heat waves.
The map, created using satellite images and the Goddard Earth Observing System mathematical model, color-codes areas based on temperature, with dark red indicating highs of 104°, as reported by the NASA Earth Observatory.
The results are alarming, showing potentially hazardous temperatures across almost the entire continental U.S. The Southwest bore the brunt of the heat, with most of the region experiencing temperatures in the triple digits.
NASA Earth Observatory Images
On the day the map was released, Las Vegas recorded a daily high of 118°, setting a new record and marking the fifth consecutive day of temperatures above 115°, also a record according to the National Weather Service.
Just three days earlier, Death Valley in California reached a staggering 129°, just five degrees below the all-time world record of 134° set in 1913.
Tragically, on July 6, a motorcyclist in Death Valley died from heat exposure as temperatures hit 128°, with four other motorcyclists in his group hospitalized due to the extreme heat.
NASA Earth Observatory Images
Other parts of the U.S. also faced extreme conditions. Oregon reported five potential heat-related deaths on July 10, with at least 17 deaths dating back to July 5.
Hurricane Beryl, after causing destruction in the Caribbean, hit southeast Texas on July 8, resulting in power outages for over three million customers in the Houston area. Many remained without power for several days amid scorching temperatures.
The heatwave is expected to continue, with the Northeast experiencing high temperatures. New York City and Boston were expected to have one of the hottest Julys on record, and Washington, D.C. saw triple-digit temperatures for three consecutive days.
Excessive heat warnings were in effect for various regions, with the weather service cautioning about potentially deadly conditions in urban areas. Stay safe and cool!
