By: Carol Fang

U.S. East Coast states in the past few days have experienced heat waves due to a heat dome circulating around the Midwest and the East states. More than 100 million people were affected in the country. Many states including Pennsylvania and Florida have had record breaking temperatures going over their average highs so far this summer.

A heat dome is the phenomenon where high pressure from the atmosphere pushes down warm or hot air that gets trapped due to the pressure acting like a lid. Heat domes usually last from about a couple of days to a few weeks. When wind blows towards the dome (in this scenario, Eastward), it forms heat waves that are constantly trying to escape but the heat dome’s high pressure keeps it from leaving.

In Pennsylvania, the average high temperature during the summer is around 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Starting on June 18, Philadelphia, temperatures had soared past 90 degrees, with the high of 98 degrees on June 22 near 3:00 P.M. The heat on that Saturday broke the record high of 97 degrees set in 1888, which was more than 130 years ago.

Moving further South into the state of Florida, 90 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit is the average high summer temperature. According to the New York Times, on June 23, 2024, the morning temperature in Pensacola was up to 94 degrees, affecting the homeless in a harsh way. When days are hot, there are two organizations that welcome the homeless and give them a place to cool down for free. The organizations, Waterfront Rescue Mission and Alfred-Washburn Center are closed.

The Waterfront Rescue Mission is only open when temperatures go beyond the heat index (the air temperature that a human feels) of 105 degrees, while Alfred-Washburn Center is open on all days but Sunday. With the two facilities closed, the heat is unbearable.

A homeless man, Mr. Green, said to the Times, “There’s no help for the homeless, except for this shade tree.”
According to multiple sources such as Vox and the World Meteorological Organization, the reason why heat waves are getting worse is climate change. Thus, many cities, across the U.S., may get even hotter in the summer.