Federal Agency Issues Weather Alerts for Millions of People in Texas, Louisiana

Excessive heat warnings now in effect for nearly 29 million people

National Weather Service (NWS) offices issued excessive heat advisories across the southern United States on June 19, 2023. (NWS)

Federal officials issued alerts for a “blistering heat wave” across Texas, Louisiana, and other southern U.S. states on June 19, warning that “excessive heat” will blanket the region over the coming days.

“Upper-level ridging over Mexico will amplify over Texas, which will lead to higher temperatures for much of the state but also as far east as Louisiana,” stated a June 19 bulletin issued by the National Weather Service. “High temperatures in the 100s and lows in the upper 70s and 80s will support the continued Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories that have been in effect for much of central/southern Texas and Louisiana.”

Amid the heat advisories, so-called cooling centers have opened across Harris County, Texas, according to reports.

The Electrical Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) also issued a “weather watch” that went into effect last week because of the heat wave, running until June 21. The council, which operates the grid for more than 26 million customers representing about 90 percent of the state’s power load, has stated that it has enough resources to meet demand.

“ERCOT has issued its first Weather Watch to let Texans know that we are forecasting increased demand due to the higher temperatures expected this week and into next week,” ERCOT President and CEO Pablo Vegas said in a statement. “Grid conditions are normal when we issue a Weather Watch. ERCOT continues to monitor conditions closely and will deploy all available tools to manage the grid and will continue our reliability-first approach to operations, always prioritizing grid reliability.”

A Fox Weather report noted that upward of 29 million people across the southern United States will be affected by the heat on June 19.

Power lines are seen during a heatwave with expected temperatures of 102 F (39 C) in Dallas on June 12, 2022. Though the heat wave caused electricity use in Texas to reach an all-time high, the power grid remained largely stable without major issues. (Shelby Tauber/Reuters)

Although overall U.S. power demand is projected to ease in 2023 after hitting a record high in 2022, rising economic and population growth is expected to keep boosting electricity use in Sun Belt states such as Texas. AccuWeather forecasts that temperatures in Houston, the largest city in Texas, will hit at least 100 degrees Fahrenheit every day from June 16 to June 22.

ERCOT forecasted that power use will slide from 80,009 megawatts (MW) on June 16 to 79,812 MW on the federal holiday June 19 before rising to 81,019 MW on June 20 and 82,295 MW on June 21, according to Reuters.

The forecasts for the 20th and 21st would top the grid’s current record of 80,148 MW, set on July 20, 2022. Power prices at the ERCOT North Hub, which includes Dallas, jumped to a four-month high of $80 per megawatt hour on June 16 from $30 on June 15, compared with an average of $30 so far this year, $78 in 2022, and a five-year (2018 to 2022) average of $66.

Some federal agencies stated that people should take precautions during periods of excessive heat. When an excessive heat warning or heat advisory is issued, officials have said that it’s essential to take common-sense action, including staying hydrated and not spending too much time outdoors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has told people to take action if they see a child alone in a car. Good Samaritan laws offer legal protection for people who offer assistance during an emergency.

“Any time you see a child alone in a vehicle, you should immediately call 911,” Kids and Car Safety Director Amber Rollins was quoted by the New York Post as saying. “You don’t know how long that child has been there or how long they’re going to be left.”

Tropical Storm?

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Hurricane Center (NHC) has forecast that a disturbance forming in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean will turn into a tropical storm over the coming days.

“Satellite images indicate that the area of low pressure located roughly midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles has become better organized overnight and is close to becoming a tropical cyclone. If current trends continue, advisories could be initiated on a tropical depression later today.

“This system is forecast to move generally westward at 15 to 20 mph with further development across the central tropical Atlantic through the middle part of this week. Additional information on this system, including storm warnings, can be found in High Seas Forecasts issued by the National Weather Service,” the NHC stated in a bulletin.

The storm, according to a forecast “cone of uncertainty,” will move to the west toward the Leeward Islands. It isn’t clear yet whether the system will turn into a hurricane or whether it poses any threat to the U.S. mainland.

Once the storm system’s sustained winds reach at least 39 miles per hour, it will be called Tropical Storm Bret, according to the NHC website.

Reuters contributed to this report.