Source: US National Weather Service
GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – One hundred million people, or about a third of the US population are sweltering under extremely high temperatures Friday 29 June, as heat warnings were put in effect in 27 of the country’s 50 states.
Temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius seen in central parts of the country Thursday 28 June were moving eastward, prompting local authorities to remind people to limit outdoor activities, to keep children and pets indoors and to be aware of heat exhaustion. According to data issued by National Climatic Agency, all-time records were reached in 57 locations throughout the country in the past week.
In the west, extreme temperatures and low precipitation has lead to a spate of wildfires, including in Colorado, where areas most affected were declared disaster areas Thursday.
Meteorologists expect the hot weather to continue for several weeks.
Meanwhile, hot temperatures helped boost natural gas future prices Friday as demand for utilities will increase in the next weeks as people seek to remain cool.
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