Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Heatwave Alert: Record-Breaking Temperatures and Extreme Humidity Expected
NWS HeatRisk Map for Tuesday, August 27th, 2024 Hot Weather Alert: Midwest and Mid-Atlantic Heatwave Expected to Break Records NOAA/NWS/OpenStreetMap (CC BY-SA 2.0) A severe heatwave is sweeping across the Midwest, bringing with it extreme humidity levels typically seen in the U.S. Southeast. As this heatwave moves into the mid-Atlantic states this week, the region could experience some of the summer's hottest temperatures, potentially breaking records. Temperatures are soaring into the mid-to-upper 90s Fahrenheit (upper 30s Celsius), reaching 10 to 15 degrees F (5.6 to 8.4 degrees C) above normal. This heat is driven by a powerful high-pressure system that has migrated from the Southwest, creating a "ridge" that blocks cooler storms and allows for clear skies, intensifying the sun's impact on the ground. Andrew Taylor, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service (NWS) in Lincoln, Ill., notes, “This is a strong ridge even for midsummer, making it especially unus