In the past week, the United States has been grappling with severe weather conditions, including a scorching heatwave that affected millions in the upper Midwest and Northeast, and a tropical storm that drenched parts of Texas and northern Mexico. The National Weather Service has issued advisories predicting record-breaking high temperatures and heavy rainfall across several regions.

According to the National Weather Service, the heatwave is expected to peak over the weekend in the eastern Great Lakes, New England, the Ohio Valley, and the mid-Atlantic. Widespread daily record highs are anticipated, accompanied by thunderstorms and excessive rainfall in the northern Plains and Upper Midwest.

Meanwhile, the Gulf of Mexico is witnessing the development of a tropical cyclone named Alberto. Forecasters predict that the storm will bring heavy rain, flooding threats, and gusty winds to south Texas before dissipating as it makes landfall in Mexico. The residents of New York City, already enduring an early season heatwave, have been alerted about poor air quality. Temperatures are anticipated to reach 92°F (33°C) on Thursday, with RealFeels climbing to nearly 100°F (38°C). However, conditions are expected to improve over the weekend.

In New Mexico, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has requested that the White House declare two fires raging in the southern part of the state as major disasters. These fires, including one in the village of Ruidoso which resulted in two fatalities and 1,400 destroyed buildings, have caused immense devastation.

Notably, meteorological records are being shattered in the northern parts of the country. Caribou, Maine tied its high-temperature record on Wednesday, reaching 96°F, which was last set in 2020. Furthermore, Bangor, Maine saw its temperatures hit 95°F on Wednesday, matching the record set in 1995. The all-time high temperature record in Bangor stands at 104°F, recorded on August 19, 1935.

Experts attribute the soaring temperatures to changes in the jet stream, causing meandering patterns that result in the formation of heat domes, persistent high-pressure systems causing extended periods of intense heat. These heat domes have been responsible for historic heatwaves and devastating consequences in the past, such as the deadly events in Chicago in 1995 and the Dust Bowl in the 1930s.

Climate experts, including William Gallus, a professor of meteorology at Iowa State University, assert that climate change is contributing to the intensification of these heatwaves. Brett Anderson, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, highlights that a prolonged ridge of high pressure over Mexico has prevented cold fronts from reaching the northern part of the United States, leading to excessive heat and drought conditions. Furthermore, the influence of El Niño and its transition to La Niña is expected to impact global temperatures, with 2025 likely ranking among the top ten hottest years on record due to climate change.

As extreme weather events continue to impact the United States, authorities are urging residents to stay informed, take necessary precautions, and be prepared for the ongoing challenges posed by these natural phenomena.