Americans endure 'dragon's breath' heat wave, set to last into next week
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[July 20, 2022]
By Randi Love
(Reuters) - They're planning days around
air conditioning in Oklahoma, monitoring the grid in Texas and keeping
an eye out for sharks as they try to cool off in New York.
Across the United States, Americans have been enduring in some cases
dangerously high heat that meteorologists say will last into next week.
More than 100 million people are living under excessive warnings or heat
advisories this week, according to the National Weather Service.
In Oklahoma City, where a high of 110 Fahrenheit (43 Celsius) was
predicted Tuesday, Colin Newman, 40, said it hits like "dragon's breath"
when he steps outside, even in the early hours.
"We plan our days around getting from one air-conditioned place to
another," he said.
New Yorkers, meanwhile, are expected to venture to the beaches to cool
off. New York Governor Kathy Hochul ordered additional shark monitoring
off Long Island, where sharks injured three people this month. Rockaway
beaches in Queens were closed to swimmers Tuesday afternoon after a
reported shark sighting, according to a New York Police Department
tweet.
The excessive heat in the United States comes hot on the heels of a heat
wave in Europe this week, which has seen wildfires and record
temperatures in the kind of weather event that scientists say will
become more frequent with climate change.
At least - unlike in Europe - many American homes have air conditioning.
Power use in Texas is expected to break records again this week as homes
and businesses crank up their air conditioners, the state's power grid
operator projected on Monday.
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A man talks on his phone during a heatwave in the financial district
in New York City, U.S., July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
For those without easy access to air conditioning in
New York, the New York City Fire Department said cooling centers
have opened in libraries, community centers and other city buildings
and that it on request is installing spray caps on fire hydrants.
In the city, transportation workers were taking precautions such as
drinking plenty of water, said Celeste Kirkland, a Transport Workers
Union Local 100 subway safety team lead.
"We're working in some of the hottest places you can think of," she
said.
In Florida's Port St. Lucie, 52-year-old resident Lisa Kessler was
avoiding all outdoor activity until the sun goes down.
"Florida is like getting a hug from a hot bowl of soup," she said.
Inside Death Valley National Park in California the village of
Stovepipe Wells is expected to hit 119 degrees Fahrenheit (48°C) on
Tuesday.
But Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth and Park
Ranger Nico Ramirez said that temperature is normal for this time of
year. He likened the local way of coping to how people handle the
extreme cold in cooler climes.
"We hibernate in the heat," he said. "I have a PlayStation and
Wi-Fi. If I'm not working, I'm home with my Wi-Fi and music and
games."
(Reporting by Randi Love in New York. Additional reporting by Rich
McKay, Tyler Clifford and Andrew Hay. Editing by Donna Bryson and
Rosalba O'Brien)
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