A significant heat dome has enveloped parts of the eastern US, particularly affecting the Midwest, where cities are breaking temperature records and prompting safety initiatives like Operation White Flag in Louisville. As families flock to splash pads and pools for relief, authorities warn of increased drowning risks. This heatwave exacerbates existing challenges, as urban infrastructure traps heat, raising nighttime temperatures and increasing demand for cooling systems powered by fossil fuels. Consequently, heat waves have become increasingly dangerous, resulting in more fatalities than other natural disasters combined.
In 2023, a heat dome impacted millions in the eastern US, with cities breaking high temperature records and prompting public safety responses to avoid heat-related emergencies.
Authorities are urging caution as record heat leads to increased risks of drowning; heat-induced fatalities surpass those caused by hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods combined.
Urban heat islands, created by concrete and asphalt, exacerbate high temperatures, leading to higher nighttime lows and increased reliance on energy-intensive cooling systems.
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