The heatwave sweeping large parts of the states has authorities urging people to try to stay cool and hydrated. However, the heat has become so intense in some areas that it has caused roads to buckle, something one car driver found out the hard way.
According to a report by the New York Post, a bystander was recording a bulge in the road in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, on Sunday. As he was filming, the road made an audible ‘pop’ sound as the surface cracked, turning the tarmac into a makeshift ramp.
Multiple sources, including AccuWeather, have shared the footage. The road split less than a second before an unsuspecting SUV driver barreled over it. They had no time to react, and the obstacle launched their car into the air, Fast and Furious style. The bottom of the vehicle appears to clip the road, and the SUV hits the ground, bumper first, with a thud. Considering the force of the impact, the car doesn’t seem to be damaged, and the driver doesn’t immediately stop.
The driver of the vehicle behind the SUV notices the obstruction and refrains from attempting the same stunt.
The Continued Heat Could Cause A Blackout Risk
A report by Fox Weather blames the soaring temperatures on a “massive heat dome.” Per Climate Check, ‘heat dome’ isn’t a scientific term, but it effectively explains what is happening. Warm air is pushed to the surface and is then held there for an extended period. The outlet explains, ‘The dome traps high-pressure air in one place, like the lid on a pot.’
Fox Weather clarifies that some cities across the eastern half of the United States broke or tied old temperature records. Yesterday, Islip, New York, registered 100 degrees, which is reportedly the third-highest reading recorded in that area. Newark in New Jersey hit 103 degrees, a daily record.
The outlet also explains that the sweltering heat is having an impact on the power grid as millions rely on their air conditioning units to stay cool. The Department of Energy reportedly issued an ’emergency order’ across the Southeast in an attempt to keep residents with electricity.