The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) issued an update about the power grid's conditions on Monday morning, in advance of a major heat wave expected to spike temperatures in southern Texas this week.
Sweltering weather is expected across the southern U.S. from Texas to Florida, pushing up temperatures to more than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In Texas, it is expected to begin on Tuesday and peak by Wednesday, with most heat-related impacts waning by Friday.
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In February 2021, a severe winter storm and frigid temperatures stressed the power grid to the point of failure, causing thousands of people to lose power, and high temperatures also pose a risk. An early start to the summer could have more people running their air conditioners at a higher capacity to keep cool, which adds stress to the power grid.
However, the grid was operating normally as of Monday morning, and an ERCOT spokesperson told Newsweek that the organization will continue to monitor the situation and keep the public informed.
On Monday, demand is expected to peak at 63,000 megawatts, according to the ERCOT website. Demand will peak at nearly 68,000 megawatts on Tuesday. During an extended heat wave last year, ERCOT demand peaked at 81,406 megawatts. At that time, the grid continued to meet demand.
Weather alerts have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for southern Texas as the heat moves into the region. The NWS HeatRisk index, a tool showing the forecast risk of heat-related impacts over a 24-hour period, revealed that a large swath of southern Texas was under a "moderate" impact on Monday.
"This level of heat affects most individuals sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts possible in some health systems and in heat-sensitive industries," the NWS HeatRisk said.
In the far south of Texas, the area near the U.S.-Mexico border was experiencing a "major" impact.
"This level of heat affects anyone without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration. Impacts likely in some health systems, heat-sensitive industries and infrastructure," the NWS HeatRisk said.
As of Monday morning, moderate and minor impacts were felt by several other states, including Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.
By Tuesday, more of Texas is expected to experience major impacts from the heat, NWS warned, with the most widespread impacts expected across the Lonestar State on Wednesday. By Friday, much of the state can expect only minor impacts, with high heat weakening as the weekend arrives.
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Anna Skinner is a Newsweek senior reporter based in Indianapolis. Her focus is reporting on the climate, environment and weather ... Read more
