That has warned leaders across the country: go to a cool place and see at a time.
But parts of the Ohio Valley and Northeast — including New York City, Philadelphia and Boston — are also on heat alert Wednesday and are expected to remain hot at least through the weekend.
“It is clear that a changing climate poses a risk to our health,” the mayor said. “I urge everyone to stay cool and safe and check on your neighbors during the week.”
Philadelphia declared a “heat warning” Tuesday noon through Thursday evening, urging people not to be outside and to use air conditioners or fans from noon to 5 p.m., the city said in an email to CNN.
Record highs were set in Oklahoma and Texas on Tuesday
“We are asking people to conserve electricity to keep systems working,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said Wednesday. “We’re asking everyone to do this so we can get through this together.”
The heat is struggling with the air conditioners. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates about 90% of Texas’ electric grid, set a one-day record for electricity demand on Tuesday and another record is expected on Wednesday, an ERCOT spokesman said.
The heat is contributing to bursting water lines in some Oklahoma communities, leading those communities to advise residents to boil their water. Because Oklahoma’s predominant soil type is loam, extreme temperatures constrict the soil, causing the soil to shift and pipes to rupture, according to the water division of the state Department of Environmental Quality.
Many communities are adopting water rationing policies, department spokeswoman Erin Hatfield said.
“In addition to line breaks, we are seeing water pressure drops due to increased water demand, and some communities are not able to fully fill water towers overnight,” Hatfield said.
In Texas, some prisons are without air conditioning
A number of correctional facilities across Texas do not have working air conditioning, the Texas Department of Justice said.
“There are 100 units (Texas Department of Criminal Justice), 31 have full air conditioning, 55 have partial air conditioning and 14 have no air conditioning. We are taking numerous precautions to reduce the impact of hot temperatures on those detained in our facilities,” Amanda Hernandez, a spokesman for the department, told CNN in an email.
“In 2022, there were seven inmates who required medical care beyond first aid for heat-related injuries,” Hernandez said. “None was fatal.”
Chief Heat Officers help cities cope
Miami-Dade County Chief Heat Officer Jane Gilbert told CNN’s Don Lemon on Tuesday that Miami now has almost double the number of days with a heat index above 90 degrees than it did in the 1970s.
“And we’re getting many, many more days with the heat index, the more extreme readings of 103, 105,” Gilbert said. “This not only affects people’s health, but also their wallets. Our outdoor workers cannot work long hours, they lose working hours. People can’t afford that air conditioner, the higher cost of electricity. It is both a health and an economic crisis. “
Those without air conditioning can stay cool by leaving windows open, using fans and draping cold towels around their necks, Gilbert said. She also suggested people check on their friends, family and neighbors.
“The elderly, young children and people with certain health conditions may be more vulnerable to the heat. It’s really important to look after those people and make sure they are able to take care of themselves,” Gilbert said.
David Hondula, director of the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation for Phoenix, echoed that assessment, saying, “Heat can affect anyone, we are all at risk.”
Hondula suggested paying special attention to community members who may not have access to regular housing.
“For example, if we see someone sleeping outside in the sun on a hot surface, don’t assume they’re just napping. There could be a true medical emergency there and a 911 call may be required,” he said.
Why heat and humidity are particularly dangerous
Heat is one of the top weather-related causes of death in the United States, according to Kimberly McMahon, program manager for public weather services at the National Weather Service.
“Heat affects everyone by limiting the body’s ability to cool down,” McMahon said.
High humidity only further limits this ability.
“Sweating removes 22% of excess body heat by redirecting heat to evaporate sweat,” said CNN meteorologist Robert Shackelford. “High humidity means there is more moisture in the air. Because there is significantly more moisture in the air, sweat evaporates more slowly, resulting in a slowdown in your body’s natural ability to cool. A day with high humidity can feel significantly hotter than the actual air temperature.”
Too much heat and humidity can lead to heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat rash, heat exhaustion “and — worst of all — heat stroke, which can be fatal,” McMahon said.
“Extreme heat is a real threat and needs to be taken seriously,” added McMahon.
CNN’s Michelle Watson, Dave Hennen, Joe Sutton, Rebekah Riess, Paradise Afshar and Mike Saenz contributed to this report.
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