Unusual heat wave in the eastern United States

An ongoing weather pattern is set to plunge the eastern United States into a heatwave, an unusual heatwave that could break temperature records on Wednesday in major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

This heat is unusual for April, not only because it is hitting a large part of the country so early in the year, but also because of its duration. According to forecasters, these near-record temperatures are expected to last through the weekend.

This potentially dangerous heat follows severe storms that swept through Kansas, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on Monday and Tuesday. More storms are possible on Wednesday.

While it is not unprecedented to see temperatures reach 32°C in April, the duration of such a heatwave in April is rare, according to experts.

“It’s almost unprecedented in terms of duration at this time of year,” said John Feerick, senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.com.

Mr. Feerick said that starting Wednesday, “records are going to be broken from Georgia practically to the New York region, then up into the Ohio Valley.”

The National Weather Service predicts a high temperature of about 30°C for Central Park in New York on Wednesday. The heat record for this date is 30.5°C, set in 1941.

Even hotter weather is expected in Philadelphia, where the high temperature is forecast to reach 33°C on Wednesday. Among other areas likely to be affected are Washington, D.C., where the high temperature could reach 34°C, and Atlanta, where it should climb to 31°C.

“It’s really impressive heat for mid-April, that’s for sure,” admitted Mr. Feerick.

“The advantage is that the humidity levels won’t reach summer levels,” he added. This means the heat won’t be as intense as on a scorching July day.

However, this early heat can be more challenging for the body, as people have not yet had time to acclimate.

“This is the kind of situation where the body is put a little more to the test because we’re not used to it the first time,” warned Mr. Feerick.

Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States, the weather service reminds. Infants and young children, the elderly, people with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to heat-related injuries and illnesses.

A strong high-pressure ridge bringing humidity to the southeast plains is behind this unusual heat in the eastern United States, the weather service said.

While Wednesday is a day where many records could fall, the heatwave will continue until Friday in many regions, forecasters declared.

“General temperatures ranging from 32°C to 35°C are expected Friday in the lower elevations of the Carolinas, which could set new daily records and may approach some monthly records,” wrote the agency’s Weather Prediction Center in a note.

The heatwave is expected to finally ease by Sunday, as a powerful cold front moves toward the East Coast, then the weather should be “pleasantly cooler” starting Monday as the front moves away toward the sea, the weather service indicated.