As the long Fourth of July weekend approached, the United States faced a relentless heatwave and poor air quality caused by Canadian wildfires, prompting authorities to urge precautionary measures for outdoor activities.
The National Weather Service stated that approximately 80 million people residing in California, the Deep South, and the lower Mississippi Valley were under excessive heat warnings.
Forecasters warned that temperatures in many parts of California were expected to exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 Celsius), advising people to avoid engaging in strenuous outdoor activities. Meanwhile, in the Midwest and East, approximately 100 million Americans faced air pollution due to the ongoing wildfires in Canada.
Authorities specifically advised individuals, especially the young, elderly, and those with respiratory problems, to limit their outdoor activities in these regions.
According to IQAir.com, New York and Washington ranked second and third respectively among major cities worldwide in terms of poor air quality. In eastern Illinois and western Indiana, severe storms caused power outages, leaving many homes and businesses without electricity. Poweroutage.us reported that around 280,000 properties were affected.
In Texas, the heatwave claimed the lives of 13 individuals, with the mid-South expected to be the epicenter of the heatwave over the weekend. Florida was forecasted to experience heat index levels of up to 112 degrees (44 Celsius) in the coming days.
The Associated Press reported that eleven of the heat-related deaths in Texas occurred in Webb County, including Laredo.
