Record-Breaking Heat Wave Threatens 130 Million Across the U.S.

Over the weekend and extending into the upcoming week, approximately 130 million people across the United States are under threat from a prolonged heatwave. This extreme weather event has already broken or tied several temperature records and is anticipated to set more from coast to coast, according to forecasters.

Record High Temperatures Across Cities

Ukiah, located north of San Francisco, reached a scorching 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius) on Saturday. This not only broke the city’s record for the date but also tied its all-time high. Similarly, Livermore, east of San Francisco, recorded a temperature of 111 F (43.8 C), surpassing the previous record of 109 F (42.7 C) set in 1905.

Las Vegas matched its record of 115 F (46 C), a temperature last seen in 2007, while Phoenix recorded a high of 114 F (45.5 C), just shy of its 1942 record of 116 F (46.7 C).

Extended Heat Warnings and Safety Measures

The National Weather Service has extended the excessive heat warning for much of the Southwest through Friday. According to a forecast update from the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, “A dangerous and historic heatwave is just getting started across the area, with temperatures expected to peak during the Sunday-Wednesday timeframe.”

In Las Vegas, where temperatures reached 100 F (37.7 C) by 10:30 a.m., Marko Boscovich shared his strategy for coping with the heat: “The best way to beat the heat is in a seat at a slot machine with a cold beer inside an air-conditioned casino.” Boscovich, visiting from Sparks, Nevada, was in town for a Dead & Company concert and hoped to hear “Cold Rain and Snow.”

Heat Impacts Across the Nation

The heatwave is not confined to the Southwest. In the Pacific Northwest, mid-Atlantic, and Northeast, temperatures are expected to spike above 100 F (38 C), as noted by weather service meteorologist Jacob Asherman. In western Nevada and northeastern California, rare heat advisories have been issued, even for higher elevations such as Lake Tahoe. Reno recorded a high of 104 F (40 C) on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 101 F (38.3 C).

Death Valley, California, is forecasted to experience extreme highs, including 129 F (53.8 C) on Sunday, with temperatures around 130 F (54.4 C) expected through Wednesday. The highest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 134 F (56.67 C) in Death Valley in July 1913, though some experts contest this, citing a record of 130 F (54.4 C) in July 2021.

Nationwide Precautions and Tragic Consequences

The heatwave is expected to bring triple-digit temperatures across the West, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 16 degrees Celsius) above average. In the East, cities like Baltimore are under excessive heat warnings, with heat index values potentially reaching 110 F (43 C). The National Weather Service advises residents to stay hydrated, remain in air-conditioned environments, avoid the sun, and check on vulnerable individuals.

The heat has already resulted in fatalities. In Arizona’s Maricopa County, there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, with over 160 other deaths under investigation. Among the victims was a 10-year-old boy in Phoenix who suffered a heat-related medical event while hiking.

Wildfires and Community Efforts

In California, wildfires exacerbated by high temperatures and low humidity have prompted firefighters to deploy aircraft and helicopters for water and retardant drops. The Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County has burned more than 19 square miles (49 square kilometers) of vegetation and timber.

Meanwhile, in Portland, Oregon, attendees of the Waterfront Blues Festival coped with the heat by drinking cold water, seeking shade, and using water misters. The festival also offered free access to air conditioning at a nearby hotel. Angelica Quiroz, 31, managed the heat by keeping her scarf and hat wet and applying sunscreen. “Definitely a difference between the shade and the sun,” she noted. “But when you’re in the sun, it feels like you’re cooking.”

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This article includes contributions from Associated Press reporters Julie Walker in New York, Rebecca Boone in Boise, Idaho, and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, as well as journalists Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee, Jonathan Drew in Raleigh, North Carolina, John Antczak in Los Angeles, Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Denise Lavoie in Richmond, Virginia, and Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia.