Sweltering, sticky, and unyielding: this has been the reality for numerous countries this summer, with over 12 states reporting elevated humidity levels in July.
Preliminary data indicates that most of the affected 48 states experienced significant humidity in the Midwest, East Coast, and parts of the Mid-Atlantic last month. Research compiled by Oregon State University.
While hot and humid weather is typical in summer, the combined “feels-like” heat index values have soared into triple digits for extended periods in states like Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Florida last month.
Cities like Pittsburgh, Roanoke, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., all marked the most humid July on record. Data managed by Iowa Environmental Mesonet tracks precipitation, soil temperature, and various environmental conditions. New York City and Raleigh, North Carolina, also faced severe humidity levels, while humidity in Detroit and Cincinnati hit their third highest levels last month.
In Paducah, Kentucky, the extreme heat and humidity from July 16th to 30th shattered many records for the city.
“We have reached the end of Paducah’s longest sustained high humidity event in the last 75 years,” stated the local National Weather Service branch. This was mentioned in a post on X on Thursday, noting that the hours spent at “oppressive humidity levels” exceeded 300% of the normal for July.
As climate change progresses, days with high humidity are expected to become more frequent. A warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, leading to increased humidity levels which present significant risks to health and public safety.
Elevated heat index values raise the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities, especially among vulnerable populations such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing health conditions. A 2022 study from nonprofit Climate Central shows that a mixture of high heat and humidity can hinder the body’s ability to cool itself through sweating.
“In various regions across the country and globe, dangerous heat is often coupled with high humidity. I discussed this in an analysis.
Moreover, a warmer atmosphere can lead to more intense storms, which can unleash large amounts of rain and result in hazardous flash floods.
So far this year, over 3,000 flash flood warnings have been issued, as reported by Iowa State University data.
Tragic flooding last month claimed at least 120 lives in the Hill Country area of central Texas, while multiple storms in New Mexico caused repeated flooding throughout July. At the end of the month, a severe storm hit New York City and nearby Tri-state areas, creating chaos during evening commutes.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
