A scorching heatwave is suspected of causing at least 19 deaths across New Jersey, as a heat dome that gripped parts of the central and eastern United States now gives way to severe storms, plunging nearly a million homes and businesses into darkness. New Jersey officials reported on Saturday that what are believed to be heat-related fatalities started appearing as early as Thursday, primarily concentrated in the central and northern areas of the state. State Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington revealed, “Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning.
A few were outside their residences, some on the street and some even in parked cars.” Governor Mikie Sherrill characterized the extreme conditions, stating this is “the hottest stretch we’ve seen in over 14 years.” The heatwave has also broken records in several cities, including LaGuardia Airport in New York, which set a new record high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit on Thursday. Trenton, New Jersey, reached 101 F, breaking the record of 100 F set in 1901. Newark’s high Thursday was 105 F, while Atlantic City hit 103 F, breaking the city’s record of 100 F set in 1966.
The heat dome that gripped parts of the central and eastern United States has given way to severe storms, causing widespread power outages. Nearly a million homes and businesses were without electricity early Sunday afternoon, with over 223,000 customers in Michigan and close to 170,000 in Pennsylvania affected. The storms have also caused significant damage, with utility poles and trees toppled, and power lines downed.
Bryan Jackson, a meteorologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Prediction Center, said heat domes can be dangerous and combine very high temperatures with high moisture. “In a lot of cases they also had direct sunshine,” he said. “It was relentless.
It was multiple days. It was not as cool overnight, as well. The low Friday morning in Atlantic City was 80.
The body can’t recover as well. You just have that multiple day buildup and too much added stress on the body.” Amanda Vesper was putting her children to bed Friday evening when the first storm rolled through the Detroit area, knocking out her power. “It didn’t seem that awful.
It got quite windy,” said Vesper, 40, of Commerce Township. As of late Sunday morning, the electricity still was out. “We’ve been going back and forth between a hotel and our home because we have dogs there,” she said.
“We really can’t stay there. I have a small child with autism. Our well runs on an electric pump.” The outage also ruined the family’s July 4 celebration.
“We had planned on having company over at the house, but had to cancel,” Vesper said. “I went grocery shopping. I’m hoping my freezer holds.”
