October Heat

Throughout the nation, countries are being surprised by a sudden change in the weather. In an all-time record of heat in October, the heat is causing some commotion. Heat is visiting more than 130 million Americans, mainly in the Southeast. The heat was in places including Washington, Atlanta, England, and New York. According to The Washington Post, temperatures were up to 98 degrees. Temperatures like that would usually be normal heat for warmer seasons.

In Washington, the state set a record of 98 degrees. The Washington Post states, “it was their warmest reading of any month since 2012”. Meaning that October has been the hottest month since 2012. New York also had its first 90 degree October day since 1941. All over the world people are getting unexpected heat and temperatures. 63 high-temperature records were beat in the US with temperatures in the 90s. Eleven cities even reached up to 100 degrees for the first time on record including New Orleans and Indianapolis. Some places have even placed the hottest temperatures ever recorded in the month of October. 

In some places the heat was so intense it caused a drought, affecting over 45 million people in 14 states. In the South, they have been experiencing blistering heat due to the lack of rainfall. The drought is causing farm soil to crack, dried up ponds and raising the risk of wildfires, also affecting some other water supplies across the region which supply much of Atlanta’s water. The temperature was in the 90s from Texas to the Carolinas. According to USA Today, 75 locations had either tied or set a new all-time October record high.
Heats are increasing in temperatures expected due to climate warming. According to The Washington Post, it is due to “increasing concentrations of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere from fossil burning”. Temperatures in 2019 have not been abnormally warm but averaged across the planet. The heatwaves are also recorded to be dangerous to us. According to BBC, there was an increase in deaths when Britain had it’s hottest day. They also talk about how there is an increase in the number of deaths around the hottest days. In August 2003, the UK had a heatwave which lasted 10 days causing an estimated 2,000 deaths. According to The Big Issue, on July 25 this year, it was recorded that the death count rose from 1,100 to nearly 1,500. Nearly a fifth more than the number of deaths usually recorded on that date.
The heat was so intense it even caused more than 100 schools to cancel in Columbus. According to NBC News, many of the schools don’t have air conditioning in the buildings. Schools in Maryland were also canceled if they did not have air conditioning. The heatwaves weren’t just breaking records, they were also causing some schools to get canceled. The temperature seems to be cooling down in many of the states as time passes. Although temperatures are going back to normal, this October will still be remembered as the latest record-breaking heatwaves in years.