The  heatwave shattering records across the US north-west is taking a bruising toll on the region’s infrastructure.

Extreme heat has been buckling highways, hobbling public transit and triggering rolling power outages.

Avista Corporation – which serves nearly 340,000 customers in eastern Washington, Idaho and Oregon – instituted rolling outages for the first time in company history as temperatures soared.

The periodic blackouts had impacted 4,667 customers as of late Tuesday, with a total of 21,000 warned they could face disruptions, the company said.

Heat also warped Seattle highways and scorched Portland’s street car wires, suspending service.

The US National Weather Service said the temperature in New York was poised to reach as high as 36C yesterday.

The breakdowns amid the worst recorded heatwave in Pacific north-west history are the latest sign that unprecedented challenges loom this summer.

Heat, drought and wildfires tied to climate change have authorities on edge as they try to avoid heat-related deaths.

President Joe Biden met governors of western states yesterday to discuss how to address wildfire threats.

In Portland, the mercury hit 47C on Monday, a third-straight record, while Seattle notched another all-time high at 42C, the National Weather Service said.

Lytton, in British Columbia, reached 47C, a new record for Canada just one day after shattering a previous high that had stood since 1937.

“I have never seen anything like this in my 40 years of forecasting,” said Paul Walker, a meteorologist with AccuWeather in State College, Pennsylvania.

Mr Biden said the north-west heat shows why better power networks are needed as climate change induces more frequent and extreme weather events.

“We need to make investments to build a more resilient grid,” Mr Biden said in a speech in Wisconsin, citing an unusual winter storm in Texas that caused the state’s power grid to nearly collapse. “That’s why we need to act.

Consolidated Edison asked about 270,000 customers in parts of Queens and Manhattan to conserve energy on Tuesday evening while the company repairs equipment.

Users were encouraged not to use energy-intensive appliances such as washing machines and dryers.

The New York-based utility firm also said it had reduced voltage levels by 5pc to protect equipment.

Boston tied a daily record of 36C on Monday, while Newark tied a record at 37C.

The east coast heatwave, however, will be different from the north-west’s because it will reverse in coming days, with rain and a high of just 25C forecast for New York Friday.

The rising heat sent natural gas futures toward the longest winning streak in almost three years and raised power prices.

Other utility companies may resort to rolling outages as the heat persists through the week, and demand is likely elevated by the easing of pandemic restrictions.