Dangerous heat invades US as West faces wildfires
Dangerous heat has invaded the United States as the West faces dozens of uncontained wildfires.
In the Northeast, extreme humidity sent the heat index -- what temperature it feels like -- soaring to 95 degrees in New York City and 101 degrees in Washington, D.C, on Saturday. At the Jersey Shore, the heat index hit a scorching 109 degrees on Friday.
A heat advisory is in effect through Saturday evening from Connecticut to Maryland, where temperatures could feel like 98-to-100 degrees.
The high temperatures will continue into Monday, when it’s forecast to feel like 98 degrees in New York City and 100 in D.C.
Meanwhile, the heat is also hitting the West, with record temperatures possible from Texas to California.
On Sunday, records highs may include 100 degrees in Denver, 99 degrees in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and 107 degrees in Madera, California.
The heat comes as nearly 100 large, uncontained wildfires burn in the U.S., including 26 fires in Oregon and 19 in Washington state.
With winds gusts up to 35 mph and humidity as low as 5%, conditions are dangerous for fires to spread Saturday evening.
Among the wildfires is the Bug Fire, which began Saturday in California. The fast-moving blaze has burned over 4,100 acres and has prompted evacuations near Reno, Nevada.
The fires are also bringing poor air quality to much of the western half of the U.S.
