By T. Jayani, JadeTimes News
Firefighters are on high alert to treat heat stroke victims with ice immersion, and some popular hiking trails in Arizona(US) have been closed as the southwestern US endures record breaking, triple digit temperatures. As summer approaches, excessive heatwave warnings are in effect across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas, with forecasters predicting no relief for several days.
On Wednesday, temperatures were expected to hit 109°F (42.7°C) in Phoenix, 107°F in Las Vegas, 110°F in Palm Springs, and a scorching 119°F in Death Valley, California. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), residents in the region may experience the hottest weather since last September.
The soaring temperatures are due to a heat dome, a high pressure system that traps hot air and causes widespread extreme heat. The NWS reports that temperatures will be 20-30 degrees Fahrenheit above average for this time of year. In Arizona, the hottest major city in the US, firefighters have used human sized immersion bags filled with ice to cool down heat stroke victims en route to hospitals. All Phoenix fire department vehicles are now equipped with these bags.
Last year, Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located, reported 645 heat related deaths. In response, the city has opened two overnight cooling stations this week for the first time. The NWS also forecasted temperatures could reach 111°F at the Grand Canyon, advising hikers to be extra cautious at lower elevations. The excessive heat led Arizona officials to close popular trails at Camelback Mountain and Piestewa Peak.
Forecasters predict temperatures in Las Vegas could hit 112°F on Thursday, with statewide temperatures ranging from 102°F to 115°F. This intense heat poses a significant danger to unhoused individuals, leading to increased demand for temperature controlled shelters. Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS) can accommodate 600 homeless people during extreme heat, as noted by its CEO, Phillip Scharf, who reported a noticeable increase in service demand and behavioral changes due to the oppressive heat.
CASS, the largest single shelter in Arizona, provides shelter, water, food, and other necessities to Phoenix area residents. This service is crucial, as unhoused and low income individuals constitute the largest segment of heat related deaths in Maricopa County.
In Texas, San Angelo reached 111°F on Tuesday, tying for the fifth hottest temperature ever recorded in the city, according to the local NWS office. Heat warnings are expected to remain in effect until the end of Friday, with extreme temperatures forecasted to spread north to the Pacific Northwest by the weekend.
