Extreme Heat Wave and Wildfires Threaten Western and Southern States Over Holiday Weekend

An "extremely dangerous" heat wave is forecasted to shatter daily temperature records across Western and Southern states throughout the holiday weekend, as per the warning issued by the National Weather Service on Thursday. The heatwave comes at a time when 28,000 individuals have been compelled to evacuate their residences due to a massive wildfire in Northern California.

Wildfire Update

The Thompson Fire in Oroville, approximately 65 miles north of Sacramento, has expanded to 3,568 acres with only 7% containment as of Wednesday night, prompting mandatory evacuations.

California's Death Valley reported a scorching temperature of 122 degrees. In more densely populated areas, Sacramento and Bakersfield experienced temperatures of 99 and 108 degrees, respectively, on Thursday afternoon. Meanwhile, Downtown Los Angeles and San Francisco recorded milder temperatures of 81 and 75 degrees, respectively.

Heat Alerts Across the South

Heat advisories or warnings covered the southern U.S. on Thursday, with Birmingham, Alabama reaching 94 degrees and a sizzling heat index of 102. Atlanta marked 93 degrees, Shreveport, Louisiana hit 97 degrees, and Tulsa, Oklahoma reached 98 degrees, with heat indexes surpassing 100 degrees. In Greenwood, Mississippi, the temperature was 97 degrees, but it felt like a sweltering 114.

Heat Wave Intensifies in the West

The National Weather Service has forecasted temperatures ranging from 110 to 115 degrees in inland California on Friday and Saturday. The desert Southwest is expected to reach a scorching 120 degrees. Additionally, the Northwest and parts of the Great Basin may experience afternoon temperatures in the upper 90s and low 100s. Authorities have warned that the soaring temperatures across the Mojave Desert, the Sacramento Valley, and the San Joaquin Valley "could pose a risk to anyone if proper heat safety measures are not followed."

High Temperatures in Las Vegas

Looming record-breaking temperatures are predicted for Las Vegas, with forecasts of 117 degrees on Sunday and a sweltering 118 degrees on Monday. These temperatures surpass the city's current all-time temperature record of 116 degrees. The weather service has urged individuals to stay hydrated, avoid direct sunlight, and seek shelter in air-conditioned buildings where feasible.

Previous Records

Recent temperature records have already been shattered, with Livermore, on the eastern periphery of California's Bay Area, reaching 110 degrees and San Rafael in Marin County hitting 100 degrees. Moreover, parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Texas recently experienced their hottest June on record.