US Heat Wave: Excessive Heat Warning with Strong Winds Issued Across California Ahead of Summer Season

An excessive heat warning with strong winds has been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) in different parts of California, ahead of the United States summer season. In the coming hours and days, temperatures are expected to rise not only in the Golden State but also in its surrounding areas. The weather service also warned the public about the risk of heat-related illnesses.

The warning came amid a US heat wave hovering above the western half of the country, forecasted to impact not only California but also the southwestern region. Ahead of the official meteorological summer season, which will be on June 20, US meteorologists are expecting warmer temperatures, humid conditions, and the occurrence of extreme heat events such as local or regional heat waves.

Excessive Heat Warning

A series of excessive heat warning were issued by the NWS office in Hanford, California, on Monday, June 3, stating that the heat alert remains in effect until 8:00 p.m. on Friday, June 7. The warnings accompanied by wind advisories apply to the following cities:

Mojave
Bakersfield
Sanger
Arvin
Mariposa
Fresno
California City
Ridgecrest

Excessive heat warnings until Friday have also been issued by the NWS office in Las Vegas, Nevada, in some cities across the state, including:

Vidal Junction
Amargosa Valley
Wikieup
Overton
Moapa
Henderson
Tuweep
Western Grand Canyon

Furthermore, according to the NWS office in Tucson, Arizona, related warnings also remain in effect in multiple cities across the state, including:

Ajo
Tucson
Green Valley
Marana
Vail
Nogales
Sierra Vista
Camp Verde

Also Read: Climate Change Triggers 26 More Days of Intense Heat Over Last 12 Months

US Heat Wave

NWS meteorologists warned that most individuals in the affected areas are at risk of heat-related illnesses, especially to those without effective cooling or adequate hydration and during prolonged outdoor exposure. This week's pre-summer season warnings have been attributed to ongoing US heat wave that is lingering over the Western US.

In its report at 3:13 a.m. on Tuesday, the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) said that the extreme heat event involves a deepening upper ridge across the West and a cutoff low west of Baja California. These systems will support the regional heat wave for most parts of the Western US in the next several days.

Starting Wednesday, June 5, the low temperatures in the Pacific Northwest will be replaced by warmer conditions, the WPC adds. The latest US weather forecast also highlights the potential for an above-average US summer season this year, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in May 2024.

In recent years, the summer months of June, July, and August in the US, Canada, and other places in the northern hemisphere, including most parts of Europe, have been associated with unprecedented heatwaves. In 2023, Europe experienced the most significant of these extreme heat events dubbed the "Cerberus Heatwave," which is reportedly responsible for causing hundreds of deaths across the continent.