A severe heatwave is affecting the US west, bringing some of the highest temperatures of the season and setting new heat records.
Millions of people, from Phoenix to Los Angeles to Seattle, are under heat alerts as this extreme weather, which began Wednesday, is expected to continue through the weekend.
Summer 2024 had already been marked as the hottest on record before this event.
In California, Indio experienced its hottest 5th of September, reaching 121°F (49.4°C), surpassing the previous record of 120°F set in 2020. Palm Springs also hit 121°F, tying its record for the day.
Schools close early, and heat alerts are issued as extreme temperatures grip the Pacific Northwest.Although Los Angeles hasn’t broken any records, nearby Burbank tied its all-time high of 114°F, with more triple-digit temperatures forecasted in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Phoenix recorded its hottest 5th of September at 116°F, making it the city’s 100th consecutive day of temperatures above 100°F.
In the Pacific Northwest, the heatwave forced early school closures around Portland, while Seattle set a new daily temperature record at 89°F on Thursday.
Globally, this summer has been the hottest on record, with Earth experiencing its warmest day in history on July 22.
Experts warn that heat waves are becoming more frequent, intense, and longer-lasting due to the ongoing climate crisis, which is driving more severe and dangerous weather. These heatwaves are the weather events most directly linked to climate change, an expert noted earlier this year.