Janice R. Andrews
As the July Fourth holiday approaches, nearly 150 million people across 21 states are under heat alerts, with dangerous and potentially historic extreme heat expected to hit the West in the coming days. Temperatures could soar to 115 degrees, and several daily heat records were broken on Tuesday. Over 130 new records might be set through next Tuesday.
On Wednesday, the temperatures in San Rafael and Livermore, California, hit record highs of 100 and 110 degrees, respectively. Warnings of excessive heat have been issued for areas of Arizona, Washington, Oregon, southern Nevada, and much of California. These alerts point to potentially fatal situations that may not get better over night.
The San Francisco Bay Area’s National Weather Service (NWS) has deemed the current situation “exceptionally dangerous,” estimating that the intense heatwave may endure for six to twelve days—the longest period of exceptionally high temperatures the Bay Area has seen in at least eighteen years.
West Coast Under Heat Siege:
On Wednesday, Los Angeles issued an excessive heat warning, predicting that for many days, temperatures in some areas of the city would rise to 106 degrees. Governor Tina Kotek of Oregon has issued a warning about this weekend’s almost record-breaking heat and revealed that state agencies will be opening cooling centers to assist locals in battling the heat.
The steamy holiday weekend forecast is still in effect, according to Seattle’s weather service, with Sunday’s highs in the 90s predicted to be the highest. On Wednesday, Little Rock experienced its first 100-degree day of the year, while Phoenix saw its 16th day in a row of temperatures at or over 110 degrees, with a high of 113 degrees.
Heat-Related Mishaps and Disasters
A child passed away tragically while hiking on South Mountain due to a heat-related medical condition, according to Phoenix police. Over the holiday, “oppressive heat and humidity” is predicted for the Lower Mississippi Valley and the Southern Plains, with highs in the 110s and lows in the upper 90s. By the end of the week, this heat wave is probably going to move eastward into the Mid-Atlantic.
Effect on the Fourth of July Celebrations
Due to the high temperatures and dry circumstances that heighten the risk of wildfires, several communities have already canceled or postponed their July Fourth pyrotechnics and parades. In response to the adjacent Thompson Fire, Oroville canceled its celebrations, and St. Helena, California, postponed its fireworks display. Antioch decided not to have its parade during the day, but it still intends to hold a fireworks display on Thursday night.
Record-Breaking Year and Raised Danger of Wildfires
Temperature records have been broken this year, with more days in Miami reaching 105 degrees or above on the heat index than there were in all of 2019. The intense heat has also increased the likelihood of wildfires; red flag warnings have been issued for almost 4 million people, mostly in California, advising them to exercise caution around open flames, especially when it comes to holiday fireworks.
Storm Concerns Worsen Holiday Anxiety
About 13 million people in the Ohio River Valley and western High Plains are at risk of severe storms, which could bring with them hail, strong winds, and sporadic tornadoes in addition to the heat. In certain areas of Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma, there is a minor chance of severe storms for 6 million people on Thursday. There is a chance of flash flooding between the Ohio Valley and eastern Kansas owing to heavy rain.
It is imperative that folks in affected areas take heat warnings seriously as the holiday weekend draws near and get ready for both extreme temperatures and possible severe weather disruptions.
