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Over 113 million people under heat advisories in the US

15 July 2023 01:30 (UTC +04:00)

A blistering US heatwave is set to intensify, with warnings issued across the south-west up to Washington state, APA reports citing BBC.

Heat advisories late on Friday affected at least 113 million Americans, from Florida to Texas to California.

In Texas, air conditioner use has led the state to surpass its previous record for power consumption as people try to keep cool.

Around 27 million people are forecast to experience temperatures over 110F (43C) in the coming days.

The heat is a result of an upper level ridge of high pressure, which typically brings with it warmer temperatures, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.

The agency added it is "one of the strongest" systems of its kind that the region has ever seen.

"The subtropical ridge responsible for this likely historic heatwave across the region is not showing signs of letting up anytime soon," the NWS said.

About 700 people are estimated to die each year from heat-related causes in the US, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.