SQUAM LAKE, NH (AP) – As New England cooked in a Heat wave Campground guests on Thursday kept their food and beer cold with blocks of ice harvested months earlier from a frozen lake.
And although some relief is expected in the eastern Great Lakes region and New England starting Friday, the National Weather Service said scorching temperatures will persist in the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic region, and would even increase in some places, notably in California and Arizona, where they could eclipse 100 degrees (nearly 38 degrees Celsius).
On Squam Lake in central New Hampshire, microwave-sized blocks of ice, packed in sawdust since winter, were removed from a remote storage cabin. It’s been a tradition at the rustic camps of Rockywold Deephaven for over a century: keeping fresh ice on hand throughout the summer and into the fall.
Angela Wilcox, who has vacationed at the camp for 16 years, took her children and nephews on a boat trip Thursday in search of the coldest swimming spot on the lake.
“It’s the hottest it’s ever been, especially in June,” Wilcox said. “We’re a little shocked.”
Readings of the combined temperature and humidity heat index are expected to exceed 100 degrees (37.7 C) in many places across the country, possibly setting all-time records, the weather service said. accumulate inside.
“Those without access to reliable air conditioning are encouraged to find a way to cool down,” the service says in its forecast.
In a study published Thursday, A group of scientists said human-caused climate change has radically increased the chances of experiencing the same phenomenon. deadly heat baking the southwest UNITED STATES, Mexico and Central America this month. Last year, the United States recorded the most heat waves — Abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days — since 1936.
Ocean waters are also warmer, particularly in the Gulf of Mexico, where the first named storm of the season, Alberto caused heavy rain to fall And causing flash floods along part of the coast, from Mexico to Louisiana. This year’s hurricane season is expected to be among the most active in recent memory.
This is set for an unusually early start to extreme summer temperatures in the northeastern United States.
It was already nearly 90 degrees (32.2 C) in New Hampshire when John Dupont opened his kettle corn stand during the 50th annual Concord Market Days Festival. He and his daughter set up two fans and were ready to wrap ice-cold towels around their necks.
“This year it’s a little difficult because of all the heat. Our kettle tops out at 150,000 BTUs,” he said.
At Johnson’s Dairy Bar in Northwood, Camryn Hildredth tried to offer customers an empty plate for that heartbreaking moment when a scoop of rapidly melting ice cream falls from the cone, but not everyone would listen.
“Everyone asks if we have air conditioning. We don’t,” she said. “It’s very hot and we have long queues, so it can get very difficult at times.”
In Burlington, Vermont, Jack Hurlbut said he had never been so hot in his life. “I live in Vermont for a reason, you know what I mean?” said the 28-year-old.
Hurlbut, who is homeless, joined others in a shaded spot on a lawn outside the public library, which was serving as a cooling center.
New York state parks had free admission Thursday, and some state-run pools and beaches opened early for swimming, the governor said. » said Kathy Hochul. New York’s beaches were available, and even though its public pools won’t open until next week, the city continues a list of hundreds free air-conditioned pitches.
“The humidity is pretty crazy,” said Anne-Laure Bonhomme, a health coach, visiting New York with her family.
Many New Jersey school districts have conducted early dismissals at the end of the school year, and at least two have postponed their high school graduation ceremonies due to concerns about heat and excessive humidity.
While much of Indiana is sweltering, road crews start their shifts at 6 a.m., two hours earlier than in cooler seasons, and take more frequent breaks in air-conditioned trucks between the filling potholes and other road work, said Kyleigh Cramer, an Indiana spokeswoman. Ministry of transportation.
“They can get in these trucks and refresh themselves right away, because being on the road is a little different than being in an office,” Cramer said.
Some relief is coming: A cold front is moving toward areas near Lake Michigan later Thursday and Friday, the weather service said. Chicago on Monday broke a 1957 record for June 17, with a maximum temperature of 97 degrees (36.1 °C).
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Ramer reported that from Northwood, NH Associated Press writers from across the country contributed, including Lisa Rathke, Kathy McCormack, Rick Callahan and Bruce Shipkowski. Follow AP weather coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/weather