North-east US cools down after heatwave but the south sees no relief

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/21/new-york-heatwave-cooler-weather-south

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A cold front is expected to move into the north-east US on Tuesday night, bringing relief after several days of brutal humidity and steamy nights, while much of the American south bakes under a heat advisory.

At New York’s Central Park observatory, temperatures were expected to top 90F (32C) for the third day in a row, with humidity levels making it feel much hotter. If they do, NBC New York reported, it would be the first sustained heat wave in two years.

In New York City and surrounding areas, more than 20,000 homes and businesses lost power overnight on Monday, cutting off air conditioners that had already been working overtime. Air quality alerts were issued across New York and surrounding states, and residents were urged to spend as little time outside as possible.

No relief is in sight for the American south, though, where the National Weather Service has issued heat advisories across parts of nine states, including South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. Heat indexes – the combined effect of real temperature and humidity – on Tuesday afternoon were expected to be as high as 110F (43C), the service said.

As the south-east region swelters, the west coast is drying out after a rare storm system drenched southern California and washed out a key highway bridge.

In Utah, the Speed Week races that draw hundreds of racing teams from around the world to the state’s famous salt flats were canceled for the second consecutive year because of wet conditions.

The Southern California Timing Association, which organizes the race, canceled the event on Monday after reviewing the flats and determining conditions were too wet or patchy for speed trials starting 8 August. Numerous land speed records have been set by competitors who race cars, motorcycles and anything on wheels, on the usually flat and smooth salt surface, about 100 miles west of Salt Lake City.

“It’s just ultimately very wet and slushy and muddy,” Bill Lattin, association president and Speed Week race director, told the Associated Press.

The heat in the north-east comes as the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that June broke records for the hottest month.

Off-the-charts heat is “getting to be a monthly thing,” climate scientist Jessica Blunden told the AP on Monday. June was the fourth month of 2015 that set a record, she said.

“There is almost no way that 2015 isn’t going to be the warmest on record,” she told the AP.

Noaa also warned of the potential for “off the charts” heat in the second half of the year, as forecasters are predicting El Niño will get stronger, warming the central Pacific Ocean and causing worldwide changes to the weather.

The agency calculated that the world’s average temperature in June hit 61.48F (16.33C), breaking the old record set last year by 0.22F (0.12C).

The Associated Press contributed to this report.