Brutal heatwave to descend on U.S. West, prompting fire warnings
Brutal heatwave to descend on U.S. West, prompting fire warnings
By Dan Whitcomb
LOS ANGELES, June 14 (Reuters) - A heatwave already punishing parts of the U.S. Southwest on Monday was expected to move into California this week, prompting the forecasters to warn of health and fire dangers.
A high-pressure ridge that built over southwestern deserts over the past few days is responsible for the unusually blistering heat this early in the year, National Weather Service meteorologist Karleisa Rogacheski said.
"Today last day of seasonable weather in California," Rogacheski said.
California saw balmy weather on Monday, with temperatures in the upper 80s and low 90s Fahrenheit (30-35°C), but forecasts called for warming on Tuesday, spiking into the triple digits by Thursday and lasting several days.
The weather service issued an excessive heat warning for parts of southwest Arizona, including Phoenix, on Monday, predicting "dangerously hot conditions" at last through Saturday.
"Very High Heat Risk. Increase in heat-related illnesses, including heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke. Heat stroke can lead to death," the NWS said in the advisory.
California's dry winter left forests and brush parched, prompting worries that the heat wave could touch off wildfires.
Wildfires scorched more than 6,500 square miles (17,000 square km) of land in 2020, destroying hundreds of Californian homes during a particularly fierce fire season.
The baking weather could also strain California's power grid as residents crank up air conditioning units across the state.
Experts say the heatwave forecast for this week, brought on by the early high pressure system, could not be blamed directly on climate change.
"It difficult to tie any one particular event to climate change," said Eric Schoening, a meteorologist in the Salt Lake City office of the National Weather Service. "But studies show that as the climate changes and it gets warmer, we will see more of these anomalous events over time."
(Reporting by Dan Whitcomb
Editing by Marguerita Choy)
((Dan.Whitcomb@tr.com; 310-491-7290;)
丹·惠特科姆(Dan Whitcomb)著路透洛杉磯6月14日電-週一已經在懲罰美國西南部部分地區的熱浪預計本週將進入加利福尼亞州，促使天氣預報員警告健康和火災危險.美國國家氣象局氣象學家Karleisa Rogacheski説，過去幾天在西南部沙漠上空建立的高壓脊是今年年初異常炎熱的原因。羅高切斯基説：“今天是加州季節性天氣的最後一天。”加州週一天氣温和，氣温在80華氏度以上，90華氏度(30-35攝氏度)較低，但天氣預報稱週二將變暖，到週四將飆升至三位數，並持續數天。週一，氣象局發佈了亞利桑那州西南部部分地區(包括鳳凰城)的高温預警，預測最終將持續到週六。國家氣象局在報告中説：“中暑風險非常高。與中暑相關的疾病增加，包括中暑抽筋、中暑和中暑。中暑可能導致死亡。”加州乾燥的冬天使森林和灌木叢變得乾燥，這引發了人們對熱浪可能引發野火的擔憂。2020年，野火燒燬了超過6500平方英里(1.7萬平方公里)的土地，在特別猛烈的火災季節摧毀了加州數百所房屋。炎熱的天氣也可能使加州的電網變得緊張，因為全州的居民都會啟動空調機組。專家表示，由早期高壓系統帶來的本週熱浪預報不能直接歸咎於氣候變化。美國國家氣象局鹽湖城辦公室的氣象學家埃裏克·舍寧(Eric Schoning)説：“很難把任何一個特定事件與氣候變化聯繫起來。”“但研究表明，隨着氣候變化和變暖，隨着時間的推移，我們會看到更多這樣的異常事件。”(Dan Whitcomb報道)編輯：Marguerita Choy)(Dan.Whitcomb@tr.com；310-491-7290；)