In a chilling moment caught on video, a heatwave-scorched Missouri road buckled under extreme heat – hurling a car into the air as the asphalt ruptured beneath it.
As the first days of summer arrived, a ridge of high pressure settled over the central US, triggering a heatwave across several states – including Missouri – where officials warned of heat index values reaching past 100 degrees, expected to persist through Tuesday.
The scorching heat made its power unmistakably clear on Sunday afternoon, when a section of Siemers Drive gave way beneath a moving car, sending it soaring into the air, as reported by ABC News.
‘Please drive carefully and be mindful of city workers who will be out repairing streets,’ the City of Cape Giradeau warned, according to the outlet.
Just before 3pm Sunday afternoon, video footage captured a gray Toyota traveling past a car dealership situated along the road, as reported by KFVS News.
What seemed like a smooth, unbroken stretch of road quickly turned ominous as a long crack crept along the white line – a subtle but foreboding sign of the disaster to come.
In less than a second, the road suddenly warped and buckled with a loud, thudding sound as the pavement beneath surged upward, forming a dangerous, jagged rise on the residential street – just as the Toyota driver approached.
Unable to stop in time, the car struck the jagged rise at full speed, catapulting into the air – its four tires momentarily suspended – before miraculously sticking the landing on the flat road just ahead.
The incident has been attributed to the state’s intense heatwave.
Prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures cause the road’s surface materials to expand, and without enough space to relieve this pressure, the pavement can buckle – resulting in sudden rises or cracks.
Images of the broken road revealed a gaping black void below, where the pavement had fully lifted off the ground – exposing a deep hole underneath.
Following the incident, a modest police presence secured the area as the road was temporarily closed to address safety hazards.
The city’s Public Works Department responded promptly, removing damaged concrete and quickly replacing it with fresh asphalt.
As crews worked to fix the damaged road – lined with ‘caution’ signs – traffic was rerouted through a nearby parking lot to keep vehicles moving safely.
Tens of millions of people are now under extreme heat advisories, as a heat dome shifted more towards the Northeast and away from the Midwest.
A heat dome – a high-pressure system that traps hot air and blocks cooler air – is driving prolonged heat waves across the US.
New York City, Boston and Philadelphia issued extreme heat warnings that went into effect on Sunday, while Washington DC and Baltimore’s warnings began on Monday.
These areas are expected to see temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, lasting at least until the middle of the week.
Now, East Coasters are being warned that failing to properly prepare for the scorching heat could have serious – and potentially dangerous – consequences.
‘Summer in the city is here – and so is our first heat wave of the year,’ NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced at a Saturday press conference.
‘This extreme heat will not just be uncomfortable and oppressive, it will be brutal and it will be dangerous to those who spend extended periods outside.’
Calling the potentially record-breaking heat wave ‘deadly and life-threatening,’ he outlined New York City’s plan to protect residents – especially those most at risk.
When temperatures are forecasted to reach 95 degrees or higher for one or more days, or 100 degrees or higher for two or more days, the NYC Department of Social Services issues a Code Red Alert.
Under the alert, those ‘experiencing heat-related discomfort’ can visit designated shelters to get a break from the sweltering conditions outside.
The groups particularly at risk of heat-related illnesses include people aged 60 and over, young children and those with pre-existing health conditions.
New York City Emergency Management Department Zach Iscol said the city is rolling out its emergency response on Sunday, offering 248 cooling shelters to vulnerable New Yorkers.
These locations include libraries and other community spaces.
Iscol also urged people to ‘take the heat seriously’ by staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous outdoor tasks and finding places to cool off.
Mayor Michelle Wu of Boston has also warned her residents of the heat’s severity.
Boston has ‘splash pads’ open at playgrounds and parks around the city, as well as public pools and cooling centers.
Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s health commissioner, Dr. Palak Raval-Nelson, issued a Heat Health Emergency in the Pennsylvania city.
Extreme heat has been a leading cause of all weather-related deaths over the last 30 years.
The National Weather Service urges residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight, and check on vulnerable neighbors.