Heat Index of 100 Threatens Millions in Texas, Over 1.5 Million Power Outages Persist Since Hurricane Beryl Landfall

A heat wave with a high heat index level is threatening millions of people across Texas, where over 1.5 million power outages have persisted for several days since Hurricane Beryl made landfall earlier this week. The most vulnerable populations from the scorching temperatures and extremely humid conditions are those with still no air-conditioning or cooling systems, as well as homeless people.

The city of Houston, Texas, is the most affected area by the power outages based on calls from its residents to contact emergency officials, according to local reports. This comes after Beryl, which rampaged through the Caribbean region and Mexico over the past week, arrived along the south Texas coast on Monday, July 8. So far, the massive hurricane killed at least three people in the Houston area.

The United States is currently in its summer season which spans from June to August each year, increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses. During this meteorological period, extreme heatwaves and intense hot weather are expected nationwide, particularly in the southern tier of the country. Summer-related fire weather conditions also increase the risk of wildfires, especially in the drought-stricken Western US.

Texas Heat Wave

Heat Wave with Heat Index of 100 Threatens Millions of People Across Texas, Over 1.5 Million Power Outages Persist Since Hurricane Beryl Landfall — Residents cool off in the Liz Carpenter Splash Pad at Butler Park on July 16, 2023 in Austin, Texas, during a heat wave. Tens of millions of Americans braced for more sweltering temperatures Sunday, July 16, as brutal conditions threatened to break records due to a relentless heat dome that has baked parts of the country all week.
(Photo : Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images)

The "dangerous" Texas heat wave is impacting the southeast portion of Texas, where approximately over 1.5 million residential and business establishments remain without electricity, according to recent reports. Following the landfall of Hurricane Beryl on Monday, parts of Texas experienced persistent blackouts for the third day as of Wednesday, July 10.

This utility problem is also aggravating the impact caused by the ongoing heat dome. Based on the latest update, the Texas power outages are still affecting around 1.3 million customers as of Thursday morning, July 11.

Also Read: Deadly Heat Wave Crisis in Asia Forces School Closure Amid Health Warnings

What is Heat Index?

US meteorologists reported that the heat wave being experienced by Texas and its surrounding region has a heat index value of more or less 100. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), heat index is a parameter that pertains to combined air temperature and relative humidity. Earlier this year, the Southeast Asian heat wave recorded a high heat index, resulting in the deaths of multiple people, school closures, and hospitalizations.

This means the extreme heat event poses life-threatening risks to humans and animals, including pets. In recent years, there have been reported heat-related deaths across the US. In 2023, hundreds of cattle died from a high heat index in Kansas and Nebraska, according to local authorities.

In the past, weather experts and scientists have warned people not to ignore the dangers posed by heat index, which differs from temperature forecasts alone. In 2022, an article report shows that recent studies have found that there have been lapses when it comes to our understanding of heat index, including in the US.