Early heat wave in the western US – Temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius are expected

Nearly the entire western US went on “alert” this week due to a particularly early surge heat, with temperatures that could reach 50 degrees Celsius in places.

“A prolonged heat wave and potential records are in progress in the west USA“It concerns a total of about 50 million people,” the US National Weather Service warned. The temperature peak will vary depending on the region, “but the trend is definitely above normal for the season or even extremely high” and the phenomenon will last at least until the weekend, experts add.

On average, temperatures are about 11 degrees Celsius higher than the seasonal averages, and this is especially the case in the arid regions and deserts of Arizona and Nevada, where records could be set.

The city of Phoenix, for example, recorded a temperature of 46 degrees Celsius yesterday, with the mercury possibly reaching 48 degrees Celsius at the end of the week, according to the latest forecasts, with the lowest temperatures remaining overnight above 30 degrees. Celsius degrees.

Such conditions are “rare, dangerous and deadly,” experts warn.

In the neighboring state of Nevada, Las Vegas is in danger of breaking the heat record, recorded in 1940, where thermometers could show over 46.5 degrees Celsius tomorrow. An episode so extreme and prolonged that it has not been recorded in this area since the beginning of summer 2013, according to local media.

The world temperature record was officially set on July 10, 1913, not far from Las Vegas on the Californian side of Death Valley: 56.7 degrees Celsius.

In addition to the health impact of the heatwave, authorities also fear the effects of extreme heat on forest fires, particularly early and intense this year, which will be exacerbated by the chronic drought plaguing the western United States.

According to the latest government data, 88% of the area is in a state of drought, including all of California, Oregon, Utah and Nevada.

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