Rapid City Records 44.4°C as Extreme Heat Grips Parts of US

Dragon Media News Desk

Rapid City in the US state of South Dakota recorded a historic high temperature of 44.4 degrees Celsius last weekend as a large-scale heat wave placed parts of the central and southern United States under extreme heat warnings.

According to the US National Weather Service, the temperature at Rapid City Regional Airport surpassed the previous record of 43.9 degrees Celsius set on July 15, 2006. Temperature records at the site date back to 1942.

The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center said the high-pressure system responsible for the intense heat was expected to shift westward later in the week, bringing renewed heat risks to California, the Southwest and the Great Basin.

Extreme heat warnings remained in effect for Phoenix, Las Vegas and the lower Colorado River Valley, where afternoon temperatures were forecast to reach between 42 and 46 degrees Celsius across desert areas and exceed 46 degrees Celsius in some locations.

Regional weather offices warned that high humidity could push heat-index values above 43 degrees Celsius in parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas.

In Arkansas, heat advisories and extreme heat warnings were expected to remain in place through Tuesday evening. The National Weather Service office in Little Rock warned that overnight temperatures in some areas could remain near or above 27 degrees Celsius, providing little relief from the daytime heat.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned that extreme heat can cause or worsen heat exhaustion, heatstroke and other serious health problems. Older adults, children, pregnant people, outdoor workers, people without reliable air conditioning and those with chronic medical conditions face greater risks.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire announced that around 112 cooling centres would open at libraries, community centres and other public facilities. City officials also advised residents who rely on refrigerated medicines or electrically powered medical equipment to prepare backup plans.

The heat wave has also raised concerns in the agricultural sector. A US Department of Agriculture report showed deteriorating pasture and rangeland conditions in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, the Dakotas and Montana.

The Climate Prediction Center warned that existing dryness, above-normal temperatures and expected below-normal rainfall could increase the risk of rapid-onset drought across parts of the Great Plains and the Corn Belt, one of the country’s major agricultural regions.

The National Weather Service said the most dangerous heat in parts of the central United States could ease as a cold front moved through the northern Plains and Upper Midwest. However, a broader high-pressure pattern was expected to strengthen over the western United States and potentially extend the extreme heat into early August.

The Climate Prediction Center has forecast a high risk of extreme heat across parts of California, the Southwest and the Great Basin during the week beginning August 2. Forecasters have also warned of increased wildfire risks in parts of the Intermountain West, while severe thunderstorms and flash flooding could occur along the edges of the high-pressure system.

Although some central states may receive temporary relief, federal forecasts indicate that much of the western and southern United States will remain hotter than normal into early August.