A person uses an umbrella to shield themselves from the sun during a heat advisory in Central Park, May 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Adam Gray, File)AP NewsUnbearable heat suspected in 19 New Jersey deaths as high temperatures give way to thunderstormsSeveral days of scorching temperatures are suspected to have caused at least 19 deaths in New Jersey as a heat dome that had settled above parts of the central and eastern United States gives way to severe storms that have knocked out power to close to 1 million homes and businesses.

Replying to @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org

"...New Jersey officials said Saturday that they began seeing what they believe are heat-related deaths as early as Thursday with most occurring in the central and northern parts of the state.

“Unfortunately, many of these individuals were found in homes without air conditioning,” state Health Commissioner Dr. Raynard Washington told reporters Saturday. “A few were outside their residences, some on the street and some even in parked cars.”..."

#heatwave #heatstroke #heatillness

Replying to @ai6yr@m.ai6yr.org

***I suspect this will be an undercount. Excess mortality due to heat stress pushing people from "ill" to "dead" is a thing, plus any welfare checks that may happen in the next week when someone realizes Grandma, who doesn't have AC, isn't responding to texts... or the neighbors smell something funny... etc. etc. The Wet Bulb Globe Temperature was *above* the temperature where deaths would happen without A/C to even someone healthy. So... places without air conditioning where people were unable to cool themselves in other ways. (ie swating/evaporation ineffective.. maybe cold showers would work? dunno.)

Jul 5, 2026, 17:00 UTCen