Temperatures could reach 130 degrees this weekend

CNN
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An already dangerous week-long heat wave will reach peak intensity this weekend as a heat dome intensifies across the western United States.

The heat dome was so spectacular that the National Weather Service in Phoenix called it “one of the most powerful high pressure systems ever seen in this area.” With more than 1,000 high temperature records broken in the United States since June, hundreds of heat records could be broken this weekend.

More than 90 million people are currently under heat warnings following the extension of the heat dome in places like California, which is experiencing its first extreme heat wave of the year.

Texas, Florida and Arizona have had weeks of dangerously hot weather, with Phoenix breaking a record for consecutive 110-degree days, forcing many businesses and parks to close or change their schedules. The low temperature in Phoenix may not drop below 90 degrees for eight days, another record.

The heat will be so intense that forecasters are advising Las Vegas residents to stay outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., and the city is bracing for a record high of 117 degrees on Sunday. With lows nearing 90 degrees, nights don’t get cold, a particularly dangerous side effect of the climate crisis.

Even the hottest place on Earth, California’s Death Valley, could reach rare highs of 130 degrees Sunday, National Weather Service forecasters told CNN. It happened several times, one of which was a world record temperature of 134 degrees.

In turn, California’s Death Valley National Park and Arizona’s Saguaro National Park posted warnings on their websites advising people not to hike after 10 a.m. local time.

Officials at White Sands National Park in New Mexico warned: “High temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees. If the temperature is above 85 degrees, we advise you not to start the walk.

In addition, Texas officials said temperatures along the Rio Grande River in Big Bend National Park and in desert areas topped 110 degrees every day.

“These are extremely dangerous/lethal temperatures! Pedestrians should be OFF THE ROAD in the afternoon. Stay hydrated. Limit your exposure,” the park says on its website.

This type of extreme heat is one of the hallmarks of human-induced climate change, which has been accompanied by a world record this year: “unprecedented” ocean heat along the Florida coast and the North Atlantic. ; Record heatwave in Beijing, likely one of China’s hottest summers; Record power and heat demand in Texas; and the ‘Cerberus’ heat wave, which threatens to break European temperature records.

It all adds up to what could be the hottest year on record.

Rising temperatures in the western United States have forced some businesses and parks to close or change hours, with the Sacramento Zoo closing at 1 p.m. PT on Friday, Saturday and Sunday due to the heat, as temperatures are expected to reach 109 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.

In Bakersfield, Calif., with high temperatures expected to reach 114 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend, the Kern County Museum said it will be closed this weekend “due to the extreme heat,” according to a post from the museum on social media. In southern California, the Cleveland National Forest announced on its Facebook page that four of its trails – San Diego River Gorge, Cedar Creek Falls, Three Sisters Falls and Eagle Peak – will be closed for the weekend. – ends due to “overheating”.

Other California businesses, such as California Gray’s Flower Garden in Quincy and Nassere Vineyards in Chico, plan to close this weekend as temperatures are expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Bison Cafe in Quituck, Texas, said it was limiting its hours due to high temperatures that made the kitchen “very uncomfortable” for chefs.

Also in Phoenix, the Arizona Animal Welfare League has decided to close its doors for the weekend. “Pet safety is our top priority, and with temperatures expected to exceed 115 degrees, our staff’s primary focus will be keeping our pets cool and comfortable during this time,” the statement said. A Facebook organization.

Doctors say that scriptures add something more serious to human health.

“Make no mistake: this heat is deadly, and staying in it for long periods of time is deadly,” Dr. Matthew Levy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine told CNN.

Extreme temperatures can cause heat illness within 20 to 30 minutes for people working hard outside because the heat acts like a “perfect storm,” not overloading the body until it “shuts down and then shuts down,” Levy said. For those most vulnerable to heat, such as the elderly and those with pre-existing health conditions, the time frame would be even shorter.

Heat illness will concern millions of residents in major metropolitan areas such as Phoenix and Las Vegas this weekend.

Residents of California’s Southwest and Central Valley are experiencing rare “extreme” levels of heat Saturday, Sunday and Monday, according to the weather service.

“Extreme Heat Hazard” is the highest possible level of heat hazard, similar to “High Hazard” for tornadoes, and is intended to warn of severe thermal effects that require preparation.

These areas must prepare for heat-related emergencies, potential power outages due to demand, and spikes in life-threatening high temperatures, especially for outdoor workers and those without reliable air conditioning.

Levi’s said workers can take frequent hydration breaks, wear sun-reflective clothing and stay safe with a “buddy system” so no one is left alone in the heat when sick. hit For those without a reliable cooling system, he recommends finding a cooling center and planning to get there before the need arises.

Before the latest wave, the heat wave had killed at least 12 people in Phoenix’s Maricopa County this year, up from 425 last year. The city has opened “retreat centers” to help with relief, and the state has asked residents to keep water in their cars.

Even as temperatures peak, the heatwave won’t let up after this weekend: The Climate Prediction Center’s longer-range temperature forecast shows above-normal temperatures in southern California, the Southwest, southern Florida and Florida through next week.