A heat dome will engulf World Cup games in the eastern US this week. Here's what to expect
The World Cup games are heating up this week with knockout rounds, and so is the outdoor heat.
A dangerous heat dome will engulf the central and eastern U.S. this week with heat index temperatures — which combine air temperature with humidity — soaring into the triple-digits in some areas. Conditions will bring above-average temperatures to World Cup host cities such as Boston, Philadelphia and Kansas City, Missouri, all of which have open-air stadiums.
“This week is going to be very, very hot,” said Geoff Cornish, assistant chief video meteorologist for the weather forecasting company AccuWeather. “This is going be a significant heat wave, the likes of which we don’t see in every single year.”
Concerns about extreme heat during the games taking place in the U.S., Canada and Mexico have been mounting for months. Worsening climate change, caused by burning oil, gas and coal, is fueling dangerous heat across the globe. In the U.S., heat kills more people every year than all other weather-related events, including hurricanes, flooding and tornadoes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Here’s a preview of how hot it will get, how cities, stadiums and FIFA prepared for this threat, and how to stay cool.
How hot will it get this week?
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch for Philadelphia and surrounding regions starting Wednesday afternoon and into Saturday evening, with dangerously hot “feels-like” temperatures, another term for the heat index, up to 110 F (43.3 C) during the daytime. As a result, FIFA’s Fan Festival in Philadelphia is shifting its hours this week, including Saturday’s watch party, which will end at the conclusion of the 1 p.m. game.
“It’s going to be sweltering and dangerous for anybody who’s spending a long period of time outside unprepared for the heat,” said Cornish.
An extreme heat warning is also in effect for Kansas City and other portions of west central Missouri until Friday night, with heat index values as high as 105 F to 110 F (40.6 C to 43.3 C) expected.
The New York City area could see near-record high temperatures of up to 109 F (42.8 C) with little respite overnight. An extreme heat watch will be in effect from Wednesday afternoon to Saturday evening.
“This level of heat can be deadly for those without adequate cooling and hydration,” the National Weather Service said, adding that it could also impact transportation and electrical and water systems.
The heat index in Boston and much of southern New England could skyrocket to 111 F (43.9 C), with the weather warning starting Wednesday morning.
How could fans and players be impacted?
Players have medical staff, three-minute cooling breaks midway through each half, regardless of temperatures, and other heat safeguards. But even the most highly trained, elite athletes are vulnerable to what’s called exertional heat illness.
