An extreme heatwave is set to bring triple-digit temperatures to swathes of the US as "deadly" heat warnings have been issued.
Heat alerts are currently affecting around 150 million people across 21 states, with forecasters warning that the potentially lethal high temperatures could persist well beyond the Independence Day holiday weekend. The west of the US is bracing for up to two weeks of record-breaking temperatures, where 15 large fires are already burning.
The National Weather Service has warned of "dangerous" heat spreading across the South and Mid-Atlantic regions into the weekend. The National Weather Service has stated that "Dozens of record highs are possible, expressing the rarity of this early-July heatwave," highlighting the unusual nature of this early-July heatwave. The intense heat affecting California is expected to extend further along the West Coast by week's end.
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"Oppressive heat and humidity will also be found throughout the southern Plains and lower Mississippi Valley into the Independence Day holiday while also expanding eastward to the Mid-Atlantic for the end of the week," the NWS said in a forecast discussion on Wednesday.
With warm overnight lows and triple-digit temperatures expected in many places, the NWS urged those in affected states to stay "weather aware and follow the advice of local officials" in taking precautions against the extreme heat, which is the top weather-related killer in the US.
Excessive heat warnings have been issued for much of California and parts of Nevada, Oregon, Washington and Arizona. California is currently under red flag warnings as the state has been experiencing intense heat since Tuesday.
New daily temperature records have already been set across the West, including in California cities such as Livermore and San Rafael, which reached scorching temperatures of 110F and 100F respectively, according to the National Weather Service.
Death Valley, California, known for recording the hottest temperature ever reliably measured on Earth, could potentially break or tie the world record with temperatures soaring above 130F, according to the NWS. The NWS' Bay Area office issued a forecast discussion warning that people, pets, livestock and infrastructure are all at risk from the excessive heat expected to last for at least a week. Overnight lows are unlikely to drop below the mid-80s in some areas.
In Nevada, the National Weather Service's Las Vegas office has issued an excessive heat warning that will remain in effect until at least Monday. This is due to a "rare and dangerous long duration heatwave" across the region, with temperatures expected to rise 12F-14F above seasonal averages for the remainder of the forecast period.
Oregon's Governor, Tina Kotek, announced on Wednesday that measures are being put in place to prepare for the ongoing heatwave. These include the opening of cooling centers throughout the state. Research from Climate Central reveals that about half of Seattle's population resides in heat islands.
These are areas where warmth is trapped by hard surfaces such as car parks and pavements, making them typically at least 8F warmer than surrounding areas, according to Axios' Christine Clarridge. High temperatures in the lower Mississippi Valley are expected to reach the upper 90s and low 100s, with heat indices soaring into the 110s.
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