The heat wave gripping parts of the country including Philadelphia, where tens of thousands are descending upon the city for the Democratic National Convention this week, is not going away anytime soon and will hit a peak Monday with temperatures in the city feeling like 108 degrees.
Excessive heat warnings will continue Monday, the first day of the convention, in the Philadelphia area, most of the Midwest and regions out west. It’s due to a dome of high pressure, meteorologists say, that’s affecting most of the United States and contributing to drought conditions in the Northeast and continuing to fuel wildfires in California.
“It’s fair to say that the vast majority of the nation has been experiencing above normal temperatures for the past week,” said David Robinson, New Jersey state climatologist at Rutgers University.
The dome of high pressure traps hot air and is the basis for the “critical high temperatures” the country has been experiencing the past week, Robinson said, even for being the warmest time of the year.
Thunderstorms are common, as they were in parts of New England over the weekend, but don’t help much with drought conditions in the Northeast and out west. Particularly dry weather in areas like Massachusetts and New York have forced farmers to choose which crops they will water and which will just not survive the season.
“The Northeast is a little bit of a mixed bag, but the bottom line is that the conditions have deteriorated over the past several weeks to a couple of months,” said Rich Tinker, a drought specialist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In southern California, where drought has persisted for years, 18 homes have been destroyed and more than 34 square miles of brush have been blackened in a blaze that sparked Friday. Los Angeles Fire Chief John Tripp said the fire “started consuming houses” ”like a freight train.”
A main difference between the drought in the Northeast and out west is that the Northeast can pull out of those conditions at any time, Robinson said.
“The good news is that there’s always a chance that the pattern can switch in several weeks at any time of the year,” he added.
Temperatures in the Philadelphia area are predicted to reach their highest points Monday as 50,000 Democrats are expected there for the DNC. The heat index could hit 108 degrees, said Mitchell Gaines, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Mount Holly, New Jersey. Temperatures may reach into triple digits. Adding to that, the humidity is set to return.
Thousands of protesters, many for climate change, on Sunday braved mid-90s temperatures as the city provided free water and “misting tents” to demonstrators, some of whom are walking several miles.
When will the heat wave break? Not anytime soon, Robinson said. Higher than normal temperatures are still expected in the six to 10 day outlook. Two weeks out, the temperatures are still slated to be high. The good news is there’s a chance, Robinson added, of normal to above normal precipitation.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
Heat wave slams US. When will it end?
AS SOON AMERICA OPEN THERE EYES AND VOTE FOR DONALD TRUMP//
AND NAME ( MONICA) ATORNEY GENERAL.. SHE WILL DO GOOD AND BETTER
THAN THE ONE WE GOT NOW.
Relax. It’s known as summer. No reason to get political or religious about the temperature!
I hope I’m not hearing you say that Mr. Trump has power over weather? Enthusiasm is ok but not delirium.
Lol, u funny but gotta admit you,er right bout that witch and Donald trump can and will, know anything did trump ever lie as much as this old witch.??
When will it end? As soon as they turn the H.A.A.R.P. off that they have cranked up to make it TOO HOT for the Pro-Sanders people to march against Crooked Hillary for the way he was treated by the DNC to ruin his campaign. Probably around Thursday or Friday. Hang in there Northeast.
First writer thinks Trump has power over weather. Now you think our imbecilic, moronic Washingtonians have power over the weather? Do you both live in Colorado?
When will it end? Sometime between August 15th and September 15th. This will be followed by moderate temperatures until the first freeze. That would be the normal cycle would it not?
Senior Tejas, using sanity on this website will place you in a very small minority. Quick, misspell a few cusswords, so you’ll fit in!!
In 2011 in this area of Texas there were 71 days of 100+ temperatures. This summer so far we have had about 3. It is normal to have heat in the summer, duh, go enlighten Al Gore.
This is the heat left over from mr clinton and monica now that Hell-lary wants to be president she is releasing all this heat and with her communist ideas she wants to burn every Anerican when she takes away their guns rights. To cool every thing back to normal first dont vote for her second put her in jail and third throw the key away
This is the heat left over from mr clinton and monica now that Hell-lary wants to be president she is releasing all this heat and with her communist ideas she wants to burn every Anerican when she takes away their guns rights. To cool every thing back to normal first dont vote for her second put her in jail and third throw the key away and forget about this rat
Had ash & smoke on Saturday, nice & cool for AM hours esp Monday 7A-1P.
Hot from 1P onward to about 4P.
For So CA.
Otherwise NOT super hot here.
Civil war coming?