When will we feel relief from North America’s brutal heat wave?
Temperatures will moderate for some areas in the days ahead, while the heat builds (and rebuilds) for others
Thousands of daily, monthly, and all-time records have fallen in recent weeks amid several high-impact heat waves across North America and Europe.
The unbearable levels of heat and humidity claimed a significant death toll, and the damage isn’t done yet. While some areas are in for much-needed relief, the heat is reloading for another round across hard-hit communities.
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All-time heat records fall in Europe
A brutal spell of heat ended June in Europe as temperatures soared across the continent.
France recorded its hottest-ever day on June 24 with a national average temperature of 30.0°C. Poland, Germany, and Denmark all witnessed their hottest temperatures ever observed.
All told, thousands of people reportedly died from heat-related illnesses during the heat wave. Relatively few homes and businesses in Europe have air conditioning.
A severe heat dome built over North America
Across the Atlantic, a powerful heat dome sent temperatures to record territory across the eastern half of North America.
Toronto saw its hottest-ever Canada Day on Wednesday, July 1, with a daytime high of 36.0°C and a feels-like value of 48. Many communities across Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes saw highs well into the 30s with feels-like values into the 40s.
The following day saw New York City record a high temperature of 37.7°C (100°F) for the first time since July 2012. Overnight lows struggled to fall below 30°C in New York and nearby Newark, New Jersey, making for the region’s hottest nighttime lows ever observed.
Relief on the way for some, heat rebuilds for others
Folks across eastern portions of Canada and the U.S. are in luck heading into next week.
The ridge of high pressure responsible for the extreme heat will break down and shift toward the western half of the continent, raising temperatures for much of the western U.S. and portions of Western Canada.
Back in Europe, another significant ridge of high pressure building into this week will send temperatures soaring 10-15+ degrees above seasonal. Parts of the Iberian Peninsula and France are forecast to return to the middle to upper 30s by Tuesday.