Summer is officially here, though you could be forgiven for thinking it started weeks ago with the high temperatures much of the country has been facing.
And as another extreme heat wave moves into the Midwest and Northeast, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has unveiled a new tool that can inform you just how dangerous the latest heat wave is.
The HeatRisk map lets people easily see their risk for health issues, which can be especially useful for elderly citizens or those who have conditions such as asthma. It’s also useful for pregnant women and young children.
The color-coded map shows risks from “little to none” to “extreme.” At present, the majority of the country is under a minor heat warning, though parts of Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan are under extreme heat warnings as the latest system moves in.
Users can enter their ZIP code to get details on their HeatRisk—and if the risk is extreme, they can find nearby cooling centers and suggestions on how best to protect themselves. They’ll also see their risk and forecast for the remainder of the week.
The tool incorporates data from the National Weather Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The HeatRisk tool comes after a sizzling 2023—and 2024 is already off to a brutal start. Texans were warned over a month ago that more extreme events were likely this year, including excessive rainfall, noting that clouds produce about 4% more rainfall for every Fahrenheit degree the average temperature increases. That can alter weather patterns and increase the number of dangerous storms. (Texas, last summer, saw temperatures in some areas that were hotter than 99% of the planet, noted some meteorologists.)