Millions of Americans are sweltering as experts warn early heat could herald next record-smashing summer
With the official start of summer still weeks away, a potentially record-setting heatwave is cooking the south-western US, causing dangerous conditions far earlier than normal.
Excessive-heat warnings have been issued from the southern tip of Texas across Arizona and Nevada, and up through the center of California to the northern part of the state, as more than 36 million people across the country brace for days of potentially life-threatening temperatures. Affected areas of California could see conditions of 30F higher than normal for this time of year, as south-west cities, including Phoenix and Las Vegas, prepare to hit peaks above 110F.
Experts have warned this could be just the start of another record-smashing season with the potential to usurp 2023 as the world’s hottest year. A three-month outlook on seasonal temperatures published by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) in mid-May forecasts above-average temperatures for most of the country through the summer.
My weather station says today’s high here was 39.5C. The previous record (my data) was 36.6C and we have never ever had more than 3-4 days of 32C+ but we’re looking at 2 weeks straight of > 35C. Or more.
The really fun part is we’ve had multiple fires start in our or the adjacent county every day this week.
I just want to be cold.
110 is hot. 90’s in this area is fine in the shade with a breeze because it’s so dry your sweat evaporates easily and keeps you cool. Once you get into triple digits your basically slow-roasting.
110 is hot but I feel like for TX/AZ/CA is not like… freakishly hot. Way back like 10? years ago we (CA) had a random summer that was like maybe 112 on the worst days? Even 100°+ days in summer hasn’t been uncommon for a long time. I get that it’s bad because global warming is happening but also they’re all pretty well equipped to handle heat, it’s just the fires that fuck shit up.
It’s not freakishly hot but it’s people-be-dyin hot.
