A record-breaking heatwave currently scorching Mexico is poised to move northward, pushing temperatures in parts of America to hazardous levels.
Swaths of the United States are set to sizzle as a plume of tropical heat drives the mercury past the 100F mark. Central and north-western regions will experience the first wave of intense heat before it sweeps southwards later in the week.
The National Weather Service (NOAA) has issued warnings of a moderate to major risk in parts of Texas and Florida, with the heat index indicating dangerous conditions.
The sweltering plume moving in from Mexico follows last week's record temperature of 51.1C in Gallinas.
Jim Dale, US weather correspondent and meteorologist for British Weather Services, remarked, "We have witnessed record-breaking heat in Mexico, with temperatures soaring off the scale in parts of the region at the end of last week. Now, this heat is spreading into the United States, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see it cross the border into southern states. The southern parts of the country will experience the highest temperatures before a slight easing later this week."
According to weather models, temperatures in the Pacific northwest and northern tier will be 10F to 20F above average for mid-May. Subsequently, temperatures in southern states are expected to soar to between 80F and just above 100F.
Following a relatively calm weekend, experts are warning of raging heat and humidity sparking another round of thunderstorms.
A spokesperson for the NOAA stated, "Well above-average temperatures are expected throughout the West and north-central United States, with summer-like temperatures continuing across much of the West and north-central US.
Active weather is forecast in the southern US over the next few days as a low-pressure system sweeps across the region."
Heavy rain is expected to bring a risk of flooding in Texas, the Lower Mississippi Valley, and Louisiana. These conditions come amidst warnings of an unusually fierce hurricane season for the US.
El Nino, a warming of the South-American Pacific that occurred last year, is fading into a La Nina cooling event, which could supercharge the 2024 hurricane season as early as next month.
Jonathan Erdman, a Weather Channel meteorologist, highlighted the potential impacts, saying, "In another month, El Nino could be gone, and according to a government outlook, La Nina is expected to develop at some point during the summer. This could significantly impact the 2024 hurricane season and the following winter."
Fluctuating ocean temperatures, particularly in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, could shake up weather patterns, with La Nina becoming increasingly likely due to pockets of cooler-than-average water along the equator.