Promised Land provided relief Sunday for city dwellers in the Northeast attempting to escape a nearly week-long scorching spell that only threatened to get worse. It’s not exactly flowing with milk and honey, as you can see from the area’s struggling black bears, but it isn’t exactly dry either.
Those who could escaped to pools, beaches, and higher altitudes like Pennsylvania’s Promised Land State Park, which is 1,800 feet (550 meters) in elevation and roughly 2 1/2 hours’ drive from New York City and Philadelphia.
The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings or advisories for over 85 million Americans, from the Pacific Northwest to the southern Great Plains and the densely populated Interstate 95 corridor. From Washington to Boston, the EPA issued a warning about “very oppressive” conditions.
Even in Promised Land, temperatures were expected to reach over 90 degrees (32 degrees Celsius), but because to the woods’ shade, the lake’s cold water, and the mountain winds, guests thought it was more than bearable.
A beach on Promised Land Lake was where Manhattan high school teacher Rosa Chavez, 47, applied sunscreen. She had just returned from a trip in Florence, Italy, where she had been traveling with her friend Arlene Rodriguez.
The heat is pursuing us, said Rodriguez, a 47-year-old property manager and real estate agent.
The meteorological service predicted that many records for high temperatures will be tied or broken in the Northeast.
Without even accounting for humidity, Philadelphia reached 99 degrees (37 Celsius) on Sunday.
The sixth day in a row in Newark, New Jersey, reached 100 degrees or higher, the longest such run since records began in 1931. Boston also broke the previous day record high of 98 degrees, established in 1933, by reaching 100 degrees.
Officials have issued a warning that there might be additional heat-related deaths after at least two were recorded in the Northeast.
Officials in Philadelphia declared a heat emergency that lasted until Monday night and dispatched personnel to check on the homeless and other vulnerable citizens. In order to help people cool off, the city also set up cooling facilities and placed air-conditioned buses at four crossroads.
Forecasters advised people to minimize their time outside, wear lightweight clothes, drink plenty of water, and check on elderly persons and pets.
The heat emergency was proclaimed by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu through Monday, and 12 cooling facilities remained open.
Sports competitions were cut short or put off. The distances that competitors had to run and cycle were reduced by the New York City Triathlon’s organizers. The Boston Triathlon has been postponed till August 20–21.
Forecasters predicted that high heat will hit the West Coast early this week and last through the weekend. By Tuesday, temperatures could surpass daily records in Seattle, Portland, and Northern California and reach their highest point since the Pacific Northwest was hit by a heat wave that killed hundreds of people.
Authorities warned that inside heat is anticipated to develop over the week, raising the danger of heat-related ailments, which emergency medical professionals in Boston previously warned of. Many homes in the frequently wet region lack air conditioning.
Forecasters encouraged people to spend as little time outside as possible, dress comfortably, drink lots of water, and keep an eye on elderly people and pets.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu declared a heat emergency, and 12 cooling facilities were still operational into Monday.
Sports events were canceled or postponed. The New York City Triathlon’s organizers lowered the distances that participants had to run and cycle. The Boston Triathlon will now take place on August 20–21.