A dangerous heat wave is looming over the western US with parts of California expected to reach as high as 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) over Labor Day weekend.
More than 50 million people are under heat watches, watches and warnings as scorching temperatures spread across California and Nevada, as well as parts of Arizona, Oregon and Idaho.
Temperatures are forecast to well exceed 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) across much of California on Thursday, reaching as high as 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) in the Coachella Valley, 111 degrees Fahrenheit (44 degrees Celsius) in the San Fernando Valley and 102-107ºFahrenheit (39-42ºCelsius) throughout the Central Valley from Bakersfield to Redding.
But by Monday and Tuesday, temperatures will have risen even higher, reaching 107-111 degrees Fahrenheit (42-44 degrees Celsius) in the Central Valley, and over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in much of the interior counties of Los Angeles and Riverside.
California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency on Wednesday in response to the heat wave. The state’s power grid operator has warned of potential blackouts as power demand rises, largely from air conditioning.
Depending on the network operatorCalifornia ISO, residents should avoid using major appliances, set their thermostats higher, and avoid charging electric vehicles during the evening and early evening hours, when the grid is under the most stress.
Governor Newsom’s emergency declaration includes provisions to temporarily boost energy production while the heat wave worsens.
“This is the latest reminder of how real the climate crisis is and how it is affecting the daily lives of Californians,” he said in a statement.
“While we are taking steps to overcome the immediate crisis, this reinforces the need for urgent action to end our reliance on fossil fuels that are destroying our climate and making these heat waves hotter and more common.”
High temperatures increase the risk of heat-related illnesses. Heat stroke, when the body cannot cool down, can be extremely serious and even deadly.
Temperatures in California might break records. Some areas around Los Angeles broke the temperature record for August 31 on Wednesday, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as their surrounding areas, are also expected to reach temperatures well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) over the weekend. Temperatures in eastern Oregon and Washington, as well as parts of Idaho, are expected to reach 105 degrees Fahrenheit (41 degrees Celsius) on Friday, and temperatures in eastern Montana are expected to reach 38 degrees Fahrenheit (100 degrees Celsius). Saturday.
In some places, temperatures will exceed normal ranges. In San Francisco, for example, highs of regarding 82 degrees Fahrenheit (28 degrees Celsius) will be recorded this weekend. Typically, high temperatures in September hover around 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 degrees Celsius).
The heat wave is caused by a “heat dome,” a mass of high-pressure air that can trap heat over a region for days.
The National Weather Service has warned that this type of heat can be incredibly dangerous, and has encouraged people to stay hydrated, seek out air conditioning, and be vigilant regarding people who may be more vulnerable to extreme heat, such as the elderly and people with pre-existing health problems.
Cooling centers have opened throughout California to help people find air conditioning.
High temperatures combined with dry California landscapes due to prolonged drought are increasing the risk of wildfires.
Two fires broke out in Southern California on Wednesday, one in northern Los Angeles County and another on the US-Mexico border outside of San Diego.
Both fires spread rapidly overnight and prompted mandatory evacuations. At least eight firefighters were injured battling the Los Angeles County fire, which closed part of a major route, the 5 Freeway.
In Yosemite National Park, along the Sierra Nevada mountains, and near the Oregon border, another large fire is burning.
The Rum Creek Fire near Grant’s Pass has burned nearly 15,000 acres (6,000 hectares), regarding a third the size of Washington DC, and remains largely out of control.
Extreme heat waves are expected to worsen as the global average temperature rises due to the climate crisis. According to the leading group of climatology experts at the United Nations, heat waves that once occurred once every 10 years will occur every two years if the world warms 2 degrees Celsius above 19th-century temperatures. The world has already warmed between 1.1 and 1.2 ºCelsius.