Nearly 44 million people across the United States were under heat wave warnings on Saturday, with temperatures in the Rocky Mountains and northern plains forecast to soar to 110F (43C) over the weekend.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that temperatures are expected to remain well above normal for this time of year, with several places likely to set new records. Salt Lake City was among the areas forecast to witness unprecedented heat.
“Dangerous heat is expected to unfold through the weekend with triple-digit highs and potential for daily maximum temperature records both days,” the service’s Weather Prediction Centre said Saturday.
Sunday is expected to be the hottest day of the spell, with temperatures ranging between 100F and 110F across several northern states, including Montana and North Dakota.
The intense heat has also complicated efforts to contain large wildfires burning in Colorado and Utah.
High temperatures have spread to the southeastern United States as well, including Miami, where the England-Norway World Cup quarterfinal was scheduled to be played on Saturday.
The latest heat wave comes just a week after another spell of extreme heat gripped the eastern United States, pushing temperatures to nearly 104F in cities such as New York and Philadelphia.
Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change, driven mainly by the burning of coal, oil and gas and the resulting greenhouse gas emissions.
Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with the World Health Organisation saying the heat wave claimed more than 1,300 lives across the region.
In France, soaring temperatures prompted the Eiffel Tower and several other Paris landmarks to announce early closures over the weekend, as around a quarter of the country remained under its third heat wave since May.
(With inputs from AFP)
