A "dangerous heat" has continued to impact California and the Southwest region of the United States as of Tuesday, June 11. This is according to the National Weather Service (NWS), which warned the heat will pose a concern for low-elevation areas of the continental US and Puerto Rico. Over the past week, NWS meteorologists have issued warnings to the public due to the risk of heat-related illnesses.
The recent US weather forecast is caused by a persistent Western US heat wave that has struck different parts of the region since the start of June 2024. In previous heat wave alerts, the weather service has issued multiple excessive heat warnings and advisories for different states across the region, including California, Nevada, and Arizona. In addition, the heat dome is also coincides with fire weather conditions.
The US summer season is almost here as the start of the summer solstice will be next week on Thursday, June 20. Regardless, temperatures are anticipated by weather forecasters to spike in the West in the coming days this week beginning Tuesday. In recent years, the North American summer season has been associated with heat-related deaths, specifically in the Northwest US and Southwest Canada.
Dangerous Heat Wave Forecast
A dangerous heat wave forecast has been issued this week for the Western US. According to the NWS' Weather Prediction Center (WPC) at 2:57 p.m. EDT (local time) on Tuesday, excessive heat warnings, watches, and advisories are in place in the following areas:
- Northern California
- Central California
- Southwest US
- Western Texas
The WPC highlights there is little to no heat relief overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, June 12. It added temperatures can potentially impact people, particularly those without adequate cooling or hydration systems. Previously, the NWS warned that prolonged outdoor exposure can lead to heat-related illnesses, including heat stress, heat stroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion.
Western US Heat Wave
In previous weather reports and forecasts, the sweltering heat in the country's western region is caused by a massive heat dome. The Smithsonian Magazine, in its report on Monday, June 10, states that the Western US heat wave is being caused by a "stagnant high-pressure system." This means that the system is trapping heat over the region, contributing to the amplification of high temperatures.
The said heat dome started last week in the region as the system remained static for a prolonged period of time. On June 3, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released its climate outlook for the current month, forecasting "warmer-than-normal temperatures" for most parts of the US. This above-average warm weather is likely to hit the western and central parts of the country.
The NOAA adds temperatures are more likely to soar in the following states:
- Montana
- Idaho
- Wyoming
- Utah
- Colorado
- Arizona
- New Mexico
- Texas
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