OVER 200 million people in the US are under a heat advisory or flood warning as high temperatures spread and new areas are told to expect severe storms, the country’s weather service said today.

The country’s National Weather Service said a “dangerous” heat wave began to scorch the north-east and mid-Atlantic on Thursday and will continue into the weekend. 

Severe thunderstorms and flash floods are possible for parts of the north-east and south, New England and South Florida. Meanwhile, the string of record-breaking temperatures will persist for the south-west and midwest.

“It’s [hitting] all the big cities,” said Bob Oravec, lead forecaster with the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Centre. “That’s why the population [affected] is so high.”

Scientists have long warned that the climate emergency, driven by the burning of fossil fuels, will lead to more and prolonged bouts of extreme weather.

The prediction for continued excessive heat comes a day after the World Meteorological Organisation and the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service declared July 2023 the hottest month on record.

On Thursday, heat and humidity in major cities along the US East Coast, created a real feel above 37.8°Celsius. 

Due to the extreme heat, two of the nation’s largest power grids are under stress, which could affect US citizens’ ability to cool off.

The country’s largest power grid, PJM Interconnection, declared a level one energy emergency alert for its 13-state grid on Wednesday, meaning the company is concerned about its ability to provide enough electricity.

“PJM currently has enough generation to meet forecast demand, but operators continue to monitor the grid conditions for any changes,” said Jeffrey Shields, a spokesperson for the company.