Residents in major cities across the Northeast endured a record-breaking heat wave on Tuesday, anticipated to be the peak of dangerously high temperatures that have gripped much of the country since late last week.
The National Weather Service (NWS) predicted that temperatures in Washington, DC, and Boston may soar to 38 degrees Celsius, eclipsing previous records by up to six degrees.
In New York City’s Central Park, temperatures could hit 37°C, surpassing the previous high of 35°C. The oppressive heat is also expected to impact other regions in the Eastern United States, including northern Georgia, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, raising health concerns for vulnerable populations.
“It looks like today is probably the worst day for widespread heat records,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster at the NWS in College Park, Maryland, adding that the most intense heat is concentrated in the Northeast.
The extreme heat is causing disruptions to public transport across the Northeast, with US passenger railroad Amtrak saying it will be forced to slow train speeds between 12pm and 8pm on Tuesday between Washington and New York and between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, which could lead to delays.
Some tourist attractions are even being affected. The Washington Monument will be closed on Tuesday and Wednesday because of the heat, according to the National Park Service.
Construction companies have been forced to compensate for the severe weather to ensure their construction workers are safe.
Jeff Wagner, communications manager at construction firm Fluor, said the company was providing cooling stations and heavy-duty water bottles to its more than 2,000 labourers working on a pharmaceuticals project in Indiana.
“We have safety meetings every morning, but knowing this was going to be an exceptionally hot week, (we spoke about) hydration and making sure workers are pacing themselves,” said Wagner.
He added that workers would start their shifts an hour earlier so they can finish before the hottest part of the day.
In New York City, residents hoping to cast their votes in primary elections have been compelled to endure the soaring temperatures.
Accountant Alex Antzoulatis, 53, who turned up at a poll site in Astoria, New York, on Tuesday to cast his ballot in the mayoral primary, told Reuters he regretted not voting by mail.
He said he went to the poll site in the 100-F heat only because he sees voting as his duty, “but the heat will keep a lot of people away”.
The warm weather across the US Plains and into Canada has also impacted crops. In Saskatchewan in Western Canada, where much of the country’s canola, spring wheat and pulse crops are grown, dryness in June hindered just-seeded crops.
Rainfall in recent days came too late, said Yorkton, Saskatchewan farmer Bill Prybylski, adding that the damage was partly mitigated by the smoky air from wildfires, which stopped direct sunlight scorching crops.
Oravec at the NWS said temperatures should start to fall on Wednesday. “Like Thursday’s temperature high in New York is forecast to be 84 Fahrenheit, and is supposed to be 75°F on Friday.”
