Almost 110 million people continue to be affected by extreme heat warnings as a result of a heat dome over the southwest of the US. Up to 38 cities might see temperature records smashed.
The extreme heat wave in Las Vegas is threatening to surpass or tie the city’s all-time high temperature of 117 F (47.2 C) on Sunday. It happens at a time when southern Europe is also experiencing record-high temperatures and Canada is coping with its worst wildfire season ever.
Scientists have long warned that the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events will rise as a result of climate change brought on by human activity. The National Weather Service reports that temperatures in Death Valley, California, reached 128 F (53.9 C) on Sunday. Hundreds of firefighters are battling brush fires on the outskirts of Los Angeles amid the sweltering heat and low humidity (NWS).
The highest temperature ever accurately recorded on Earth was there: 134 °F.(56.7C). Security personnel are on duty at premium casinos and hotels’ fountains to deter guests from leaping in, and Las Vegas’ often bustling streets are noticeably less congested than usual.
With no sign of relief in sight, El Paso, Texas, has been experiencing temperatures of at least 100.4 °F (38 °C) for more than a month. For 17 days straight, Phoenix, Arizona, has experienced temperatures exceeding 109.4 °F (43 °C).
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The South-West US Faces Intensifying Heatwaves
On Sunday, the city was given a slight break from recent peaks thanks to thick cloud cover, although midday temperatures still hit highs of 114 F.(45.5C).
However, the heat is expected to last for some time, and authorities are cautioning that those who are more susceptible, such as young children, pregnant women, and the elderly, face a high danger of contracting a heat-related illness.
Homeless individuals with third-degree burns are reportedly being treated by mobile clinics. In some areas of California and Nevada, public buildings have been transformed into “cooling centers” where people can escape the heat. Park ranger Matthew Lamar commented on the severe heat in Death Valley, saying: “We hadn’t hit 130F (54.4C) here for almost 100 years, and then in 2020 we got 130, and then in 2021 We reached 130, and this weekend we might hit it again.
He continued by saying that visitors were drawn to the weather because they wanted to “experience the extremes.” Yet, several tourists argued that people shouldn’t forget that these extremes are a sign of climate change.
Read also: America is not such a laggard on climate change as it seems
Source:BBC News
