‘Dangerously hot conditions’: millions in US west prepare for extreme heatwave

Millions of people in the western US are preparing for extreme heat as unprecedented temperatures are forecast across California, Nevada and Arizona.The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a heat advisory for California’s Bay Area and central coast regions as temperatures are expected to reach up to 90F (32C).“Dozens of daily high temperature records are expected, and many locations are likely to set both all-high temperatures for the month of March and their earliest 100 [degree] temperature on record,” said the NWS Weather prediction center in a statement.This is the first time in history that such a warning has been issued in March for the region, as temperatures are upwards of 20F to 30F above average.Higher temperatures raise concerns about an increase in heat-related illnesses, especially among vulnerable populations. Weather officials have instructed people to remain hydrated and stay inside as needed.Winter recreation has been affected due to the historic weather. At least one ski resort in central California announced it has closed early for the season due to “unseasonably warm conditions”. The Dodge Ridge Mountain Resort in Pinecrest, California, wrote on Instagram: “We are hopeful that this will not be the end of our season, and aim to resume operations should we receive significant snowfall at a later time.”The upcoming heatwave temperatures could cause California’s snowpack to further dwindle, officials warn. The state’s snowpack, compressed snow that accumulates throughout the winter and serves as a key water source when melted, is already below average. California is now drought free, but continuous low snowmelt combined with higher temperatures could be problematic in the future.Record-breaking heat was also forecast in Las Vegas, Nevada, with temperatures set to reach the mid-90s this week. The highest temperature recorded in March is 93F set on 26 March 2022, KSNV reported.The NWS placed an “extreme heat warning” in effect across much of Nevada, including Las Vegas, as well as north-west Arizona from Wednesday until Sunday evening. “Dangerously hot conditions with temperatures peaking between 95 and 100 degrees expected for the Las Vegas Valley, Pahrump Valley, and Kingman; temperatures peaking between 98 and 103 for lower elevations of southern Mohave County,” the NWS advisory read.