Heat, storms and fire risk: Fourth of July weather is nothing to celebrate

The US is set for a hazardous Fourth of July, with extreme weather conditions across the country, including dangerous heat in the Southwest and Pacific Northwest, storms in the Midwest, and fire risks due to hot, dry conditions.

Heat and Storms: Parts of the Southwest and Pacific Northwest are facing dangerously hot weather and severe thunderstorms are predicted in the Midwest.
* The mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions are also expected to experience storms, continuing the recent “unsettled weather”.
* Texas recently experienced brutal temperatures, with high humidity increasing the dangers and causing nine heat-related deaths in Webb County last month, while heat-related emergencies rose sharply in Texas and the surrounding states.

Fire Risks: Hot, dry weather has also led to increased fire risks in some areas.
* Even Seattle, known for its rainy climate, has concerns about the risks posed by sparks due to a very warm and dry forecast, as well as ongoing moderate droughts.
* Western Colorado is under a red flag warning due to the elevated fire risks.

Influence of Smoke: Smoke from wildfires in Canada has led to poor air quality in the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Northeast regions.
* Despite a current break from the unhealthy smoke, it could return due to the ongoing fires.

Climate Connection: Recent hazardous conditions, particularly the severe heat and increased wildfire risk, have ties to human-caused global warming.
* Climate change intensifies heatwaves and lengthens their duration. For example, one county in Oregon is suing oil and gas companies over a heatwave that resulted in hundreds of deaths in 2021.
* Climate change also heightens the risk of wildfires.
* Currently, the long-term trend of global warming is being exacerbated by the natural phenomenon El Niño which tends to raise global temperatures.

View original article on NPR

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