The National Weather Service says that along the U.S. West Coast on Friday and Saturday, temperatures will soar. They warn that “dangerous heat” will likely spread up the West Coast as it gets worse.
For most of the West Coast on Friday, temperatures will be 15 to 30 degrees above normal, according to the weather service. “Numerous record-breaking temperatures can be expected through the next few days,” the service added.
A lot of states have heat watches and warnings out for big parts of California, as well as Nevada, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.
The weather service said that it could get into the triple digits in some parts of California and southern Oregon. Weather forecasters say that California will feel the worst of the heat wave on Saturday, when temperatures are expected to hit the 110s.
The National Weather Service said that in the normal hot spots of the Desert Southwest, temperatures could reach the 120s.
Temperatures could reach up to 129 degrees in Death Valley, which is known for being one of the hottest places on Earth.
A “Red Flag Warning” was sent out by the National Weather Service for Los Angeles because of “hot, dry, and windy conditions.” It was in force until late Friday night. The warning means that there is a higher chance of a fire. The weather service told people to be careful around open flames because the dry weather could make fires spread faster.
The Thompson wildfire, which burned through Butte Country in Northern California this week and caused thousands of people to leave their homes, happened at the same time as the heat wave. On Thursday, evacuation orders were changed to alerts.
A report from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection on Friday said that 46% of the fire was controlled.
The extreme heat and humidity will move east to the mid-Atlantic and the Southeast over the weekend. Temperatures will likely reach the high 90s and low 100s.
The National Weather Service warned people to be careful because the effects of heat can build up over time and be dangerous to health and safety. Forecasters say that the above-average temperatures will likely last until next week.
“It is imperative to stay hydrated, out of direct sunlight, and in buildings with sufficient air-conditioning when possible,” the weather service said. “It is also equally as important to check on the safety of vulnerable friends, family, and neighbors.”
The office of California Gov. Gavin Newsom said earlier this week that the state was taking steps to make sure that the state’s most vulnerable residents had access to services, such as cooling centers.
In the past few years, more and more people have died because of the heat. An AP study found that too much heat killed about 2,300 people in 2023, which was more than any other year on record.
The Biden government just this week proposed a new rule that would protect workers from the effects of being too hot.
