A relentless heatwave that has already shattered records, sparked numerous wildfires, and left approximately 130 million individuals under high-temperature threats is expected to intensify, prompting the National Weather Service to deem it “potentially historic.” This sweltering heat has taken hold of nearly 133 million people across the country, primarily affecting western states where temperatures are expected to remain in the triple digits for several days.
The oppressive heat and humidity are expected to join forces, causing temperatures to soar above 100 degrees Fahrenheit in certain regions, including the Pacific northwest, the mid-Atlantic, and the northeast. Jacob Asherman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, noted that records were broken in at least four Oregon cities on Friday, with Medford reaching a scorching 109 degrees Fahrenheit, a 15-degree increase from its previous record.
At the Waterfront blues festival in Portland, Oregon, music enthusiasts tried to cope with the heat by drinking cold water, seeking shade, or refreshing themselves with water misters. Angela Quiroz, 31, spoke about the drastic difference between the shade and the sun, saying, “Definitely a difference between the shade and the sun. But when you’re in the sun, it feels like you’re cooking.”
In sweltering Las Vegas, where the temperature had already reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit by 10:30 am, Marko Boscovich suggested that the best way to beat the heat was to sit in an air-conditioned casino with a cold beer. “But you know, after it hits triple digits, it’s about all the same to me,” he said.
US Heatwave GripsLas Vegas tied its daily heat record on Saturday, reaching a scorching 115 degrees Fahrenheit, as the National Weather Service implored people to be mindful of leaving children or pets inside vehicles in the extreme heat.
Records were also broken in California’s Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures climbing to a blistering 127 degrees Fahrenheit, 5 degrees higher than the previous record. The mercury is expected to reach 129 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday and 130 degrees Fahrenheit through Wednesday.
Rare heat advisories were issued for upper elevations, including around Lake Tahoe, with the National Weather Service in Reno warning of “major heat risk impacts, even in the mountains.” The extreme heat, combined with winds and low humidity, means the potential for wildfires to spread is high, with red-flag warnings in effect across much of California until Saturday evening.
California has more than two dozen wildfires burning across the state, with the two largest, in the central part of the state, burning more than 24,000 acres combined. The Thompson fire, in northern California’s Butte county, has forced thousands to evacuate and injured two firefighters, while the French fire, which erupted near Yosemite national park, has held steady after more than 1,000 personnel worked overnight to contain it.
The eastern US is also bracing for more hot temperatures, with Baltimore and other parts of Maryland under an excessive heat warning, as heat index values could climb to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. The National Weather Service advises people to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”