More than 50 million people in the US are under heat warnings, while hundreds are evacuated due to flooding in the Midwest.
Rising temperatures have placed more than 50 million people in the United States under extreme heat warnings, while flooding has spurred rescue operations and evacuations across the Midwest.
The National Integrated Health Information System Calor he said on Monday that about 57.4 million people nationwide were under active extreme heat watches, watches and warnings, down from 123.8 million on Sunday.
“The arrival of this more intense heat at the start of the summer season leads to a greater level of heat-related stress, especially for those who are outdoors and without reliable air conditioning available,” the National Weather Service said in a report.
Rising temperatures and deadly floods highlight the risks of extreme weather fueled by climate change, which has increased the frequency and intensity of such events.
The governor of the Midwestern state of South Dakota said at least one person died in flooding over the weekend. In neighboring Iowa, Gov. Kim Reynolds told reporters Sunday that more than 1,000 displaced people spent the night in shelters.
“Businesses are closed. Main streets were impacted,” Reynolds said. “Hospitals, nursing homes and other care facilities have been evacuated. Cities are without power and some are without drinking water.”
Over the weekend, officials in cities including Philadelphia warned that heat indices could reach more than 41 degrees Celsius (105 degrees Fahrenheit), putting residents at risk of heat-related illnesses.
“It’s most important for people going outside to stay hydrated, because the heat, humidity and light winds, even if you’re in good shape and not very used to it, can be a danger,” said Bruce Thoren, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oklahoma. “It happens quickly.”
Research has shown that heatwaves will be one of the most dangerous effects of climate change in the coming decades, and hundreds of people have died due to extreme heat in Asia and Europe in recent weeks.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
