Wednesday, June 25

Hundreds of people have been hospitalized amid a major heatwave currently impacting the eastern United States.

While flooding and storms are some of the most prominent causes of deaths in the United States, heat is actually the single largest weather-related killer. According to data from the Weather Channel, a 30 year average from 1992 to 2021 showed that flooding, tornadoes, and hurricanes killed an average of 88, 71, and 45 people each year, respectively. However, heat was consistently the cause of the greatest number of fatalities, with an average of 158 deaths per year-- almost double the next largest killer.

Now, a massive heatwave has struck the eastern United States, with temperatures soaring into the high 90s and even 100s. The blistering temperatures have potential to break records in many cities, and it is not limited to one particular area; the heatwave extends across the entire East Coast.

Temperatures over the last few days exceeded 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) across most of the eastern United States, and areas farther from the Appalachian Mountains saw temperatures reach into the triple-digits.

Yesterday, Memphis, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia had highs of 92 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit (33 and 35 degrees Celsius), while Midwestern cities like Chicago and Cincinnati saw highs of 95 and 97 degrees Fahrenheit (35 and 36 degrees Celsius). New York City saw a high of 99 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees Celsius), and Charlotte, North Carolina; Boston, Massachusetts; and the country's capital of Washington D.C. saw highs reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon-- extremely high for this time of year, when summer is just beginning to kick into high gear.

Heat warnings are still in place across the East Coast, and people have been strongly recommended to stay indoors throughout the day-- even early morning and late evening temperatures are well into the 80s. Hundreds of people have been hospitalized across several different states, including North Carolina and New Jersey.

Individuals who spend too much time in the sun without proper hydration could suffer from heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and even heat stroke, the latter of which is a life-threatening condition that can damage organs if not treated quickly.

Unfortunately, extreme weather events like heatwaves will continue to become more prevalent across the United States and the entire world as the dramatic effects of climate change become more and more clear, with weather patterns shifting and the global climate slowly warming.

Fact of the Day (BBC): Laughing came before language. How do we know? Some researchers tickled baby apes, which, beyond being adorable, showed that they share the same structure as ours and likely arose in our common ancestors millions of years ago. Language came about much later. 

Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): You don’t know your value until you test it. (Paige VanZant)

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Noisome (adj, NOY-sum) - Noisome is a formal and literary word used to describe things that are very unpleasant or disgusting; it is used especially to describe offensive smells. Noisome can also mean “highly obnoxious or objectionable” as in “we were put off by their noisome habits.”

In a Sentence: The noisome odor of a trash can in the alley was so strong that even diners seated inside the adjacent restaurant complained to staff.