MITCHELL, S.D. (MITCHELLNOW) Nearly 73 million people in the United States were under extreme heat alerts on Monday (June 17, 2024). The mid-Atlantic and New England states are likely to see highs in the 90s later this week with high humidity.
The United States, in 2023, saw the most heat waves lasting more than two days since 1936. The heat has been especially dangerous in Arizona. Last year, 645 people died from heat-related causes which was a record. The temperature in Phoenix last weekend hit 112 degrees
The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity on Monday sent a petition to the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking it to recognize extreme heat and wildfire smoke as major disasters. On a related note, hurricane season in the United States is expected to be the most active in recent history.