Tens of millions of people sweltered across the U.S. Northeast and Midwest on Monday as record-high heat disrupted electricity supplies and train travel.Heat warnings, which began over the weekend and are set to continue through the week, were in effect across much of the United States. East Coast officials warned that, as the heat combines with humidity, many places could see conditions that "feel like" 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).The National Weather Service warned that nighttime temperatures may not offer much respite from the "oppressive heat," with nighttime forecasts of temperatures in the 70s and possibly even the 80s for East Coast cities.Some East Coast trains were halted en route for safety precautions on Monday, and Amtrak said in a statement that its cars would operate at lower speeds due to heat restrictions.Amtrak heat restrictions kick in when temperatures are higher than 95F (35C). The company also reduces its train speeds when the tracks themselves reach 128F (54C).Health experts urged employers to adjust working hours for outdoor laborers, to ensure they had adequate breaks and opportunities for hydration, and to monitor for signs of heat stroke or exhaustion."There is a disconnect between the severity of heat waves as a public health risk and the public recognition of that risk," said Howard Frumkin, an expert in environmental and occupational health sciences at the University of Washington.Police departments said they were taking steps to protect officers who were stationed outdoors – urging them to stay hydrated, or to stay in the shade where possible, according to the departments in the North Carolina city of Raleigh and the national capital, Washington D.C.U.S. electrical grid operators directed power plants to be ready to run at maximum force, with electricity demand expected to spike as people run fans and air conditioners to stay cool.Scientists have warned that such extremes are fast becoming the new normal – while also upending assumptions about which regions might be spared the worst of climate change.Heatwaves can cause power outagesBecause air conditioners and fans use more electricity, the power grid can get overloaded.
