A Third of Americans Swelter as Summer Heat Tests Power Grid

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessA Third of Americans Swelter as Summer Heat Tests Power GridMore than a third of Americans are facing a scorching heat that threatens to topple temperature records and stress power grids as homeowners and businesses crank up air conditioners to seek relief.Author of the article: You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.(Bloomberg) — More than a third of Americans are facing a scorching heat that threatens to topple temperature records and stress power grids as homeowners and businesses crank up air conditioners to seek relief.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountMore than 134 million people are under some sort of heat warning or advisory across the US on Monday, with the bulk of them caught in an unbroken stretch of heat stretching from the central to southern US, according to the National Weather Service.“It’s a big area across the middle section of the country,” said Bob Oravec, a senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. “There is still a lot of heat through the Plains for the first half of the week. Then the heat will definitely shift westward.”St. Louis is expected to reach a high of 99F (37C) on Monday, which will feel closer to 113F with the humidity, while Dallas is set to reach 102F with a heat index of 108F, according to Oravec. Other high-temperature pockets are in southern California and around Phoenix.Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“Either way, there is going to be a lot of heat somewhere through the week,” he said.Most temperature records will be challenged in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle as well as across the Gulf Coast on Monday, according to the US Weather Prediction Center. Across the country, 94 daily high temperature records may be broken, threatened or tied through Sunday, the agency said. In addition, 242 record warm overnight lows may also be challenged, meaning there will be little relief from the daytime heat and a higher possibility that energy demand will remain high in many areas.The heat is taxing power grid operators across the US. Southwest Power Pool and the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which together cover at least parts of 20 states, have warned that loads may rise as high temperatures drive energy demand. Stagnant air under the large high-pressure system may also crimp wind-generated power at peak times.SPP ended a level two emergency alert for the western part of its grid Friday, but it remains under a “conservative operations advisory” as a precaution amid the heat. MISO has a severe weather alert in place until the end of the day, warning of intense thunderstorms, straight-line winds, large hail and the potential for isolated tornadoes. Prices rises on both grids were muted Monday morning.Through the course of the week, the heat will start to shift westward, Oravec said. This will bring a break to the middle part of the country, but will likely send temperatures across California soaring.Temperatures are set to rise 3F to 5F degrees above normal throughout the West, including large parts of California, from Aug. 1 to 5, Commodity Weather Group said in its Monday forecast. While the central and western parts of the US bake, New York City and most of the Northeast will remain seasonally cool. Monday’s high in Manhattan’s Central Park is forecast to reach 83F and cool Tuesday to 79F with rain.—With assistance from John Ainger.(Updates with more details on power grid situation from eighth paragraph.)This advertisement has not loaded yet.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.