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Brutal heatwave scorches US west, sparking fires
and health warnings
Several California cities broke heat records, rising
as high as 112F, and blazes erupted as residents were forced to flee
Maanvi
Singh and Gabrielle Canon
Wed 31 Aug
2022 19.41 BST
A
record-breaking heatwave has scorched the US west, the latest in a string of
extreme temperature events putting communities on high alert for heat-related
illness and death as temperatures are expected to spike higher through the
holiday weekend.
More than
50 million Americans live in areas now under excessive heat watches, warnings
and advisories. Temperatures are expected to hit 115F (46C) in the coming days
across parts of southern California, Sacramento and the San Joaquin Valley,
according to the National Weather Service. In Death Valley, temperatures were
forecast to reach more than 120F (49C) – and perhaps match the highest
temperature observed globally in the month of September.
On
Wednesday afternoon, heat records for this time of year broke in several California
communities, including those near Los Angeles and San Diego. In Burbank and
Woodland Hills, a suburb north of Los Angeles, temperatures rose to an alarming
112F (44C) smashing previous August records.
The extreme
heat also helped spur new wildfires across the state. The Route fire, which
erupted in the triple-digit heat and prompted closures of Interstate 5 as
residents in the area were forced to flee. The fire spread quickly, consuming
thousands of acres in mere hours. Seven firefighters battling the blaze
suffered heat-related injuries according to the Los Angeles county fire
department, which added five of them were taken to hospitals for care.
The
California department of emergency services said additional fire resources had
been prepositioned in high-risk areas across the state as officials prepare for
conditions to intensify through the weekend.
“The
National Weather Service is forecasting widespread extreme fire weather over
parts of the central coast and southern California through the weekend and into
next week,” officials said in an update on Wednesday, noting that both
essential equipment and additional personnel were made ready in Orange and
Santa Barbara counties “The public is urged to remain aware of their
surrounding conditions and to avoid outdoor activities that can cause a spark
near dry vegetation,” they added, urging residents to have emergency plans in
place and load their vehicles with fuel to prepare for a fast evacuation.
Temperatures
are expected to build throughout the week, with northern and southern
California bracing for the highest temperatures during the long weekend.
Extreme heat warnings have been triggered up and down the state, including in
the San Francisco Bay area.
Parts of
the Pacific north-west, Nevada, Idaho and Montana will also face dangerous
temperatures. Boise, Idaho, is expected to finish August with an average
temperature of 80F (27C) – the highest since record keeping began in 1875.
Temperatures are expected to be eight to 12 degrees above normal in north-west
Arizona, south-east California and southern Nevada.
Across many
of these areas, temperatures are expected to cool only slightly overnight –
elevating the risk for heatstroke and deaths, especially for vulnerable
populations who lack air conditioning.
The extreme
temperatures are a result of a “heat dome” bearing over the region – a ridge of
high atmospheric pressure that acts as a lid, trapping in heat. Although
climate crisis doesn’t cause heat domes, scientists expect it to drive more
extreme weather.
The
heatwave is just the latest of several to hit the US this summer. As they grow
more frequent and intense, California has debated naming and ranking them –
similarly to hurricanes – to underscore their significance. Extreme heat kills
more people in the US than any other weather event, according to the National
Weather Service. In interior northern California, the service has warned that
“the entire population is at risk” of deadly heat.
California
officials have warned that the heat could strain the state’s energy resources
as demand for air conditioners and other appliances surge. The strain could be
especially acute in a year that has already seen hydropower disrupted due to
drought. With the heatwave just beginning, officials have called for residents
to conserve energy where possible to avoid outages, describing the coming days
as “the most extensive heatwave in the west so far this year” in a news
release.
Additional
“FlexAlerts”, a warning to conserve energy “are also possible through the Labor
Day weekend as record setting temperatures are forecast across much of the
west”, the state’s grid operator said.
High
temperatures are also expected to accelerate the formation of ground-level
ozone, or smog, which exacerbates respiratory issues. In southern California,
officials have issued an ozone advisory due to the heatwave, advising people to
stay indoors and avoid physical exertion.
Officials
also warn that the high temperatures could further prime the parched,
drought-addled west for wildfires. Parts of the west have already seen an
explosive spring and summer, with major fires in the south-west and Alaska.
On Sunday,
Oregon governor, Kate Brown, declared a state of emergency due to the
“imminent” threat of wildfire. “It is imperative that we act now to prevent
further loss – of life, property, business, and our natural resources,” she
said.
In
California, which has seen a relatively quiet fire season compared with recent
years, officials advise that the heat will not only further dry and prime the
landscape for explosive fire, but also increase the risk of ignitions. “With
the warming and drying trend this week and over the weekend, we will see very
dangerous heat risk and increased fire weather concerns over portions of
interior northern California,” advised the National Weather Service in
Sacramento.
The
National Interagency Fire Center has warned of high fire risk in much of
northern California, due to “warm temps, gusty winds”, low humidity, and
“flammable fuels”.
Guardian
reporter Gabrielle Canon contributed to this report.
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