By Tyler Clifford
(Reuters) – The western United States is facing another round of record heat, as a wave is expected to produce triple-digit temperatures in cities from Southern California to Northern Idaho by midweek.
About 30 million people are under heat warnings or excessive heat warnings in effect through Wednesday, with some projected to reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), the National Weather Service (NWS) said Sunday. These states include parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.
Central Oregon and parts of Washington are also under elevated wildfire threats due to hot and dry weather conditions, the NWS said.
Firefighters are battling several wildfires in Oregon, including the Lone Rock Fire, which has burned more than 116,000 acres (470 square kilometers) in the northern part of the state, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. About 40% was contained. Storms moving through the state could make the response more difficult, officials said.
The Malheur County Sheriff’s Office on Saturday ordered some residents to evacuate as the Durkee Fire spread across eastern Oregon. In western Canada, wildfires in Alberta and British Columbia also forced evacuations over the weekend.
Research shows that climate change driven by fossil fuels is helping to produce dangerous heat waves around the world. Authorities warn of the main health risks associated with extreme heat, including heatstroke.
“For at least the next four days it looks quite warm across much of the western U.S., and for at least the next two days there is definitely potential for some record high temperatures across parts of the interior of the Pacific Northwest and toward the desert Southwest,” , said NWS meteorologist Bob Oravec.
The northwestern part of the U.S. will experience the biggest weather anomalies, including much of Washington state, where temperatures are 20 degrees warmer than normal for this time of year, according to Oravec. Large cities like Seattle and Portland will be spared the extreme heat.
Temperatures are forecast to rise above 100 F (38 C) and break records in cities like Yakima, Spokane and Mack, Washington. Boise, Idaho, could tie a record of 107 F (42 C), Oravec said.
Much of the West Coast will see temperatures about 10 degrees above normal. Las Vegas could tie a record 113 F (45 C) on Sunday, while California’s Death Valley National Park is expected to climb above 120 F (49 C).
“On Monday, records fell, as did the potential to break records, but that doesn’t mean it will be significantly colder. They will still be well above average in the same general areas,” Oravec said.
On Saturday, records were broken in Baker, Oregon and Alturas, California, Oravec said.
(Reporting by Tyler Clifford in New York City; Editing by Mary Milliken and Chris Reese)
