Western U.S. heat wave brings record temps, wildfire evacuations
A severe heat wave is impacting the Western United States, causing record-breaking temperatures and fueling wildfires in the Pacific Northwest. Authorities have issued health warnings as the prolonged heat increases the risk of heat-related illnesses and fatalities.
Why it matters
Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent, highlighting the growing public health and infrastructure challenges posed by climate change.
Yet another heat wave scorched the Western United States on Saturday, bringing extreme heat warnings to Southern California and record temperatures in the Southwest and Montana. Wildfires erupted in the Pacific Northwest as the region faced an exceptionally rare "Particularly Dangerous Situation" warning due to extremely dry conditions and strong winds. Phoenix reached 116 degrees Saturday afternoon, tying the region's record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on the date Aug. 1, set in 1972, according to the National Weather Service. It was 6 degrees short of the area's all-time record. Las Vegas and El Centro, Calif., were within striking distance of their daily records, and both Great Falls and Helena, Mont., surpassed their daily records in preliminary measurements. Officials in Southern California cautioned residents to look out for signs of heat-related illness, such as dizziness, confusion, headaches and nausea.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in