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Temperatures could break records, experts warn

Vaseline September 3, 2024

A potentially record-breaking heat wave is expected to push temperatures into triple digits across the western U.S. this week, prompting warnings from government officials as authorities across the region set up cooling shelters.

Millions of people in southwestern Oregon, California, parts of Arizona and western Nevada are under extreme heat warnings from Tuesday through Friday.

“Temperatures are forecast to be above average across much of the West Coast, with the potential for several daily records to be broken,” the National Weather Service said in a statement Monday.

The San Diego Weather Service warned that temperatures in Palms Springs, Palm Desert and the Coachella Valley could reach 112 to 118 degrees Wednesday through Friday. The overnight weather won’t bring much relief, with temperatures forecast to be in the 80s and mid-90s.

In Los Angeles, federal meteorologists predicted high temperatures of 95 to 105 from Wednesday through Friday, according to the local weather service. On Monday, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said she had deployed emergency personnel to prepare for the heat wave and that authorities had begun setting up cooling centers around the city.

“Homeless people, the elderly, children and people with health problems are most at risk for heat illness,” the Los Angeles weather bureau said on X. “Daytime temperatures between 95 and 105 will become common off the coast.”

In Las Vegas, temperatures could reach 108 degrees, while the Colorado River Valley could experience highs of 115 degrees. Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park is expected to reach 116 to 120 degrees this week.

However, the danger does not only exist in the southwest.

In southern Oregon, meteorologists warned that high temperatures could reach 100 to 105 degrees on Thursday, about 20 degrees above normal for this time of year. In Portland, temperatures could reach 100 degrees on Friday. The San Francisco Weather Service said temperatures could reach the mid-90s to 107 degrees on Wednesday and Thursday.

Residents were reminded to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms and stay out of the sun. Most importantly, people were warned not to leave children and pets unattended in vehicles. Car interiors can reach deadly temperatures within minutes, the weather service said.

Heatwave in the southwest is not uncommon at this time of year

According to Heather Zehr, senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, the approaching period of scorching heat is not unusual for Southern California, western Nevada and southern Arizona this time of year.

“September is actually generally quite a warm month because they are so far southwest and the climate is so dry. The highest normal temperatures are usually reached in late August and early September,” she said.

Zehr noted that the approaching heat wave will be much less severe than an earlier heat wave that broke records in the Southwest in July. The earlier burst of hot weather brought temperatures in Phoenix to 118; midday temperatures in Las Vegas to 120 and peak temperatures in the desert region of Palm Springs to 124 degrees. This week, each of those areas is forecast to remain several degrees below their July midday temperatures.

The same cannot be said of the Northwest.

Zehr said southwestern Oregon typically starts to cool off in early fall as Arctic air moves into the region. However, the heat wave could challenge daily record highs in the Willamette Valley, including cities like Portland and Medford, as meteorologists predict temperatures could reach as high as 105 degrees.

“This is a little more unusual for them,” Zehr said, referring to the heat wave sweeping across Southern Oregon.

Contributors: Doyle Rice, USA TODAY