Residents and communities are bracing for a heat wave to envelop the Midwest and Northeast next week

A man on a bicycle photographs the sunset over the Great Salt Lake on Thursday, June 13, 2024, near Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Things are about to heat up across much of the United States with dangerously high temperatures in the Midwest and Northeast next week, prompting health officials to urge people to plan now to stay safe.

The heat wave follows an earlier-than-usual heat wave in the Southwest last week, which saw triple-digit temperatures in cities like Phoenix, where there were 645 heat-related deaths. heat last year.

Last year, the United States experienced the most heat waves – abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days – since 1936. In the South and Southwest, last year was the worst ever recorded, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The next heat wave will intensify in the central part of the country on Sunday before spreading east, the National Weather Service said, with some areas likely to experience extreme heat reaching daily records. The heatwave could last all week and into the weekend in many locations.

Here are a few things to know:

Which areas will experience extreme heat?

There will be areas of extreme heat — when there is little or no relief overnight — from eastern Kansas to Maine, according to a heat hazard map from the National Weather Service. Heat will accumulate over the Plains states on Sunday, where there will be extreme heat by Monday that spreads eastward into the Great Lakes states and the Northeast.

Temperatures will be in the mid to high 90s in many areas and will likely reach daily records in the Ohio Valley and Northeast, with the dew point making some areas as hot as 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius), time tells service.

It will be the worst heat wave the Detroit area has seen in 20 years or more, with temperatures forecast in the mid-90s and heat indexes around 100 F (38 C) starting Monday and possibly lasting through the weekend, National Weather Service meteorologist Steven Freitag. said. The region may experience its first 100-degree day since July 2012.

Although nighttime temperatures drop into the 70s, providing some relief, the duration of the heat can have a cumulative and potentially dangerous effect on the body, Freitag said.

What are the dangers of extreme heat?

Heat-related illnesses can be deadly if not recognized and treated early, and often start with cramps or muscle spasms, experts say. Heat exhaustion and heat stroke could result.

Young children and infants, pregnant women, the elderly and people with chronic illnesses are particularly vulnerable, as are those who cannot move around properly or who live alone.

Symptoms of heat exhaustion may include heavy sweating and fatigue; a weak pulse; cool, pale or clammy skin; and headache, dizziness, nausea and fainting. The person should be moved to an air-conditioned space and offered sips of water. Loosen their clothes and apply cool, damp cloths or put them in a cool bath. Seek medical help if they vomit.

A person suffering from heatstroke may experience headaches, confusion, nausea, dizziness, and a body temperature above 103 F (39.4 C). They may also have warm, red, dry, or moist skin; rapid pulse and fainting or loss of consciousness. The CDC advises people to call 911 immediately and, while waiting for help, use cool cloths or a cool bath and move them to an air-conditioned space, but not give them anything to drink.

How can you stay safe?

Stay indoors in an air-conditioned space and limit outdoor activities, experts say. If you don't have air conditioning, find out if your community will open cooling centers. But even those with air conditioning should plan ahead in case of a power outage, said Freitag, of the National Weather Service. Limit outdoor activities to the morning or, better yet, don't go out, he said.

Other advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

1. Drink plenty of water and take a cool shower or bath.

2. Wear light, loose clothing and use your stove and oven less.

3. Check in on your friends and family, especially those who don't have air conditioning.

Communities can also prepare by opening cooling centers in places like schools and libraries. Some also text residents or have hotlines that people can call for help.

In Franklin County, Ohio, the Office on Aging is distributing ventilators to residents 60 and older, spokeswoman Kristin Howard said.

And some companies whose employees work outside say they will start earlier to avoid the worst heat.

“When you get this kind of heat, any outdoor activity should be short-lived (preferably)… early in the morning,” Freitag said. “But otherwise, there really shouldn’t be any outdoor activity with physical exertion at the height of the day.”