A dangerous heat wave will bring record-breaking temperatures to parts of the Western US this weekend, prompting warnings for people to stay inside and heightening wildfire risks in areas that already are dry or burning.
Heat Wave Details
A ridge of high pressure is holding heat close to the ground — what’s known as a heat dome — from Arizona to Montana. The National Weather Service on Saturday forecast a high of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) in Las Vegas, the hottest temperature of the year. Phoenix is expected to reach 116F (47C), while El Centro, California, was expected to hit a record 118F (48C).
Overnight lows in the upper 80s to low 90s will make the situation especially dangerous because it doesn’t allow people’s bodies to recover. People are urged to stay indoors and hydrated.
Wildfire Risks
Forecasters are warning that this heat wave, combined with drying from past heat, will add to wildfire risks across the West. The U.S. Forest Service has said there is an enhanced wildfire risk through Sunday in most of Southern California except for the coastline.
Climate change is making heat waves, wildfires more frequent. This year’s weather is also expected to be affected by El Nino, a natural warming of the equatorial Pacific that alters weather patterns and spikes temperatures across the globe.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
