The United States is gripped by a severe heat wave with temperatures reaching 50 degrees | Instagram VTM News

A large and powerful area of ​​high pressure currently dominates the western United States. This is already causing temperatures around and above 40°C over a large area in the southwest. This high pressure area is blocked so that heat can build up. It acts as a lid on a saucepan so that no heat can escape. Then one talks about the so-called “heat dome”. The result is extreme temperatures, resulting in an exceptional heat wave.

The southwestern United States is already experiencing sweltering temperatures right now. It will get hotter in the coming days. It is expected that the peak of the heat wave will reach between Friday and Monday. Daily temperatures in California, as well as in parts of Nevada and Arizona, can reach maximums between 40 and 50 degrees Celsius. The highest temperatures are expected in the valley and desert regions in particular.

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In Death Valley, the hottest and driest place in the United States, temperatures can soar to over 50 degrees Celsius. The National Weather Service is even talking about an extreme of 54°C or more in the current forecast. Such high temperatures would be very unusual for this region. The highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley is 54.4°C. This record dates back to 2020 and 2021 and was measured in Furnace Creek. Historical reports also mention 56.7 °C in 1913, but the reliability of this measurement is still disputed by experts.

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It remains to be seen if the absolute temperature record will actually be broken until the very last minute. Some weather models already indicate that the record will be at least a match. Other weather models are a bit milder, keeping temperatures just below record levels. The US National Weather Service currently chooses the most pessimistic scenario and assumes temperatures of 54°C or slightly more. In this case, the record will be broken and this means that it will never be this warm in Death Valley before.

Extreme heat is associated with many dangers. That’s why the National Weather Service issued a general warning (“Extreme Heat Warning”) for large portions of California, Nevada, and Arizona for the period Friday through Monday. In other parts of the southern United States, a heat warning (“heat warning”) is in effect.

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In particular, the combination of scorching heat under the blazing sun with limited cooling at night makes heat potentially dangerous. So the weather service warns of a high risk of getting sick as a result of the heat, especially for those who are in the sun for a long time and often work outside. It is recommended to drink plenty, to seek cooled rooms, to stay out of the sun, and to check regularly if loved ones or neighbors are okay.

“Children and pets should not be left in a hot vehicle under any circumstances. Take extra precautions when working outdoors. Schedule activities for early morning or evening if possible. Dress lightly, get enough rest and spend enough time in the shade or in cooled rooms,” is the advice. Because of the combination of heat and dryness, there is also a high risk of wildfires and forest fires in the area.

Heat waves are more common in this region and occur almost annually. Temperatures of 50 degrees Celsius or more are not unusual in Death Valley. This place enjoys a micro desert climate between two mountain ranges. There is little or no rain in this area, because the rain flows on the leeward side of the surrounding mountain range and the air on the back of the mountain dries up and warms strongly. If the temperature in Death Valley exceeds 54.4 degrees Celsius, we are talking about record heat.

For the central and western regions of California, the expected temperatures are quite exceptional. Partly because the heat spreads over a very large area and also lasts for a while. Therefore, meteorologists expect to break records. Daily records seem indispensable, but there are also many more absolute temperature records on the horizon to be crushed. So it looks like this heat wave will go down in history in the United States.

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