Janice R. Andrews
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sunday saw the continuation of an unrelenting heat wave that has already destroyed previous records across the United States, blistering sections of the West with deadly temperatures that resulted in a motorcycle rider dying in Death Valley and gripping the East with intense heat and humidity.
About 36 million people, or about 10% of the population, were under an excessive heat warning, the highest alert level issued by the National Weather Service, according to meteorologist Bryan Jackson of the NWS. Numerous places in the Pacific Northwest and West tied or exceeded existing heat records.
Temperatures That Break Records
Numerous locations in Northern California recorded temperatures above 110°F (43.3°C), with the city of Redding setting a record at 119°F (48.3°C). On Sunday, Phoenix broke the record for the warmest low temperature of the day, never falling below 92°F (33.3°C).
At Death Valley National Park in eastern California, where a visitor died from heat exhaustion and another person was hospitalized, a high temperature of 128°F (53.3°C) was recorded on Saturday and Sunday, according to officials. According to a statement from the park, the two tourists were among six bikers who were traveling through the Badwater Basin region in the sweltering heat.
The deceased individual’s identity was withheld. According to the statement, the other motorcycle rider had “severe heat illness” and was sent to a hospital in Las Vegas. Emergency medical helicopters were unable to respond because of the high temperatures since they are normally not safe to fly over 120°F (48.8°C), according to officials. The other four party members received medical attention on the spot.
The Risks of Severe Heat
“Although it’s an exciting time to be in Death Valley and potentially experience world records, we advise visitors to plan their activities wisely and stay inside air-conditioned vehicles or buildings during high temperatures,” park superintendent Mike Reynolds stated.
Authorities issued a warning, noting that heat-related illnesses and injuries might worsen over the course of several days. The park statement stated, “Experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle during this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident, in addition to not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures.”
Fans of the Heat
Chris Kinsel, a visitor to Death Valley, claimed that being there on a record-breaking day was “like Christmas day for me” despite the extreme heat. Although it’s still rather warm in the winter, Kinsel and his spouse usually visit the park in July, which is unbelievably scorching compared to other seasons.
“Spending a summer in Death Valley has always been on my bucket list.” “I’ve wanted to come out here in the summer for the most of my life,” said Kinsel, who was traveling from Las Vegas to Death Valley’s Badwater Basin area. Kinsel stated he was going to the visitor center at the park to get his picture taken next to the digital thermometer sign.
Natasha Ivory, whose eight children were taken to a water park in Mount Charleston, outside of Las Vegas, across the Nevada desert, experienced a record high temperature of 120°F (48.8°C) on Sunday.
It’s a blast, Ivory said to Fox5 Vegas. “I will also become wet.” It is too hot to avoid.
The Nation Is Heating Up
In Oregon, temperatures in the triple digits were widespread and broke multiple records. One such record was reached in Salem on Sunday, when the temperature reached 103°F (39.4°C), above the 1961 high of 99°F (37.2°C). Although there were no severe heat advisories in place for Sunday, temperatures exceeding 100 degrees were widespread on the more humid East Coast.
A weather service statement for the Baltimore region advised residents to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check on relatives and neighbors.” “Under no circumstances should young children or pets be left unattended in vehicles.”
Heat Records in the Southwest Shaken
The weather office in Reno, Nevada, issued a warning of “major heat risk impacts, even in the mountains” in response to unusual heat advisories that were extended further higher, including the area surrounding Lake Tahoe, which lies on the border between California and Nevada.
“How heated is our conversation? It won’t get below 100 degrees (37.8°C) for maximum temperatures in western Nevada and northeastern California until the next weekend, the service announced online. “And regrettably, there won’t be any improvement over night either.”
More record highs are expected soon, with a potential midweek temperature of 130°F (54.4°C) in Furnace Creek, California, in Death Valley. Though some scientists contest the measurement and claim the true record was 130°F (54.4°C), recorded there in July 2021, the highest temperature ever officially recorded on Earth was 134°F (56.67°C) in Death Valley in July 1913.
Manchester, England native Tracy Housley claimed she heard on the radio that temperatures could hit record highs and made the decision to drive from her hotel in Las Vegas to Death Valley.
Housley stated on Sunday, “We just thought, let’s be there for that.” “Let’s go for the fun stuff.”
An Increase in Deaths
According to a recent report, there have been at least 13 verified heat-related deaths in Arizona’s Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix. There are also over 160 additional suspected heat-related deaths that are still being investigated.
This excludes the 10-year-old child who passed away last week in Phoenix after experiencing a “heat-related medical event” while hiking at South Mountain Park and Preserve with his family, according to the police.
High temperatures and low humidity fuel wildfires in California
Crews in California fought a number of wildfires throughout the state in oppressive heat. After starting on Friday, the expanding Lake Fire in Santa Barbara County, northwest of Los Angeles, had charred more than 25 square miles (66.5 square kilometers) of dry grass, brush, and wood. By Sunday, there was no containment. Although much of the wildland being burned was deserted, some rural residences were under evacuation orders.
The ongoing heat wave that is engulfing the US is breaking records and having a negative impact on the environment and human health. The risks of excessive heat serve as a clear reminder of the pressing need to address climate change and put protective measures in place for vulnerable groups, especially because there is no sign of a rapid respite. It will be essential to be aware and take precautions as temperatures climb in order to lessen the effects of this extraordinary heat wave.
