...
By Alice Gibbs
Senior Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
As temperatures across several Western states continue to soar, a resident of Phoenix, Arizona, has shared how his neighbor's blinds melted under the pressure from the blistering sun.
Heat advisories have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) across parts of California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington. When temperatures in Phoenix reached 118 degrees Fahrenheit, Shawn—who only gave his first name—was stunned to see the blinds melting.
Walking his dog over the weekend, he was stopped in his tracks. "I walk my dog every day and noticed the blinds on Friday or Saturday the 5th and 6th. That apartment was recently remodeled with these new blinds," Shawn told Newsweek. "I was surprised and concerned about them maybe catching fire. I had seen other apartment blinds warping, but nothing like this. Mostly people that live west-facing and get the hottest part of the day have issues."
Read More on Life
...
Health Warnings Issued
More than 35.8 million people in the Western part of the country are under excessive heat warnings. The NWS is advising people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms where possible, avoid the sun, and check up on neighbors and relatives.
Residents of Arizona have even been advised to avoid alcohol. Other suggestions from the NWS include wearing lightweight clothing and eating smaller meals to cope with the extreme temperatures.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that approximately 1,220 people are killed by extreme heat in the U.S. annually. However, it appears that number is climbing, as the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) reported that 2,302 people died of heat-related causes last year. Vulnerable groups such as young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with chronic medical conditions are particularly at risk.
Living in Phoenix since 1982, Shawn is no stranger to the city's intense heat. "The heat is nothing new to me. Hell, I remember when it was in the 120s way back in the late 1980s," he said. "We look for water activities, keep blinds up in your car windshield when it's parked, crack your car windows, and hide in the AC. It's usually only about three months that are rough. We had an amazing fall, winter, and spring this year, so not trying to complain too much."
Experts predict this year will be even hotter than 2023—recorded as by far the hottest year in human history. Meanwhile, the U.S. has produced more climate-heating gas and oil during that time than any country in the world, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA).
In 2023, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said "the era of global boiling has arrived," adding that drastic and immediate action was needed when it comes to climate change.
The Western heat wave coincides with other severe weather events across the country. Parts of Texas were battered by Hurricane Beryl on Monday morning, leaving around 400,000 people without power and causing school closures in dozens of districts.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines