Extreme Heatwaves in Big U.S. Cities
What’s Happening?
- Many big cities in the United States are getting very, very hot.
- This is called an extreme heatwave.
- Temperatures are much higher than usual for many days.
Why Is It a Problem?
- Hot weather can be dangerous for people, especially for kids, older people, and those who are sick.
- People can get sick from the heat (like heatstroke or dehydration).
- It can also cause problems with electricity (when everyone uses air conditioning at the same time).
What Are the Cities Doing?
- Cities are giving out health warnings to tell people to stay safe.
- They are opening cooling centers. These are places where people can go to cool down if their homes are too hot.
- Some cities are handing out water and fans to help people stay cool.
What Should People Do?
- Drink lots of water.
- Stay inside where it’s cool, especially during the hottest part of the day.
- Wear light clothing.
- Check on neighbors and family, especially if they are old or sick.
- Never leave kids or pets in cars (cars can get dangerously hot very fast).
Why Is This Happening?
- These heatwaves are happening more often because the Earth is getting warmer (called climate change).
- Weather experts say we might see more hot days like this in the future.
In short: Many U.S. cities are facing dangerously hot weather, so everyone is working together to stay safe and cool.