Record high temperatures continue to hit the southwestern United States through the Upper Mississippi River, boosting weekend energy demand as people turn to air conditioning for cooling, and heat is expected to spread to Chicago and the Great Lakes earlier this week. I am.
Throughout the western United States, 27 record highs were set or tied on Saturday, many of which are in Texas, said Bob Olabeck, senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Forecast Center. As the Mississippi Valley stretches east and north towards the Great Lakes on Mondays and Tuesdays, the heat continues in much of the region on Sundays.
“It’s going to be pretty hot in the south, which is a fairly standard heat wave pattern, a large region of high pressure extending southwest from the central plain,” Orabek said.
The high temperatures are driving demand for electricity in the southwest and throughout Texas. Houston has opened a cooling center for residents who couldn’t overcome the heat at home. Heat recommendations and excessive heat warnings extend from California to Tennessee.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in Las Vegas reached 109 degrees Fahrenheit on Saturday’s second day, setting records for dates set in 1940 and 1956.
Sunday measurements were expected to reach 106 degrees Fahrenheit. Denver set a record on Saturday with a maximum temperature of 100 degrees Celsius. Dallas reached 103 degrees on Saturday, setting a record for the day set in 1911. Meanwhile, Houston reached 97 degrees at Hobby Airport, setting a date record.
Houston, the fourth most populous city in the United States, is projected to reach 100 degrees on Sunday. Dallas is expected to reach 103 on Sunday and Fort Worth will rise to 104. The National Weather Service says it will approach 107 due to heat and humidity.
The Texas Electric Reliability Council, which manages electricity across the state, predicted record demand late Sunday, according to its website.
