The West Coast is experiencing a significant heat wave. How long will it last?
Throughout this week, millions across the western states are facing dangerously high temperatures, reaching into the triple digits.
Areas in California and Arizona are predicted to report near-record high temperatures, soaring 10 to 20 degrees above the usual average. Excessive heat warnings are in place until Friday for many residents in Oregon, California, Arizona, and Nevada.
Forecasts indicate that this heat wave could persist at least until the end of the week, with temperatures ranging from 90 to 110 degrees.
Western U.S. is under excessive heat
“September can actually be a very hot month given the southwest’s geography and its dry climate,” noted Heather Zehr, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. It’s common for these states to see peak average temperatures towards the end of August and early September.
Recognizing heat-related illnesses
High temperatures and humidity can impair your body’s ability to cool itself. Knowing the signs of heat exposure and how to cope with its effects is vital.
Here are some indicators and symptoms of heat-related illnesses, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Climate change impact
The western U.S. is one of the country’s most climate-sensitive areas, where rising temperatures are increasingly tied to climate change.
The Climate Shift Index below illustrates how climate change is expected to affect temperatures this Friday. Higher values on the index – which ranges from 0 to +5 – highlight where climate change is contributing more significantly to temperature levels.
For example, a Climate Shift Index level 5 indicates that a temperature is occurring five times more often compared to a scenario without human-caused carbon emissions.
CONTRIBUTORS: Christopher Cann, Cybele Mayes-Osterman, and Jim Sergent, YSL News; Laura Daniella Sepulveda, Arizona Republic
SOURCE: National Weather Service, ClimateCentral.org, YSL News research