California Braces for Record-Breaking Heat Wave as Four Fires Already Rage in State


California Braces for Record Breaking Heat Wave

California is bracing for its first major heat wave of the year as four fires are already raging in the Golden State.

Temperatures could reach 106 to 112 degrees in Antelope Valley in northern Los Angeles County, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The heat advisory for the area remains in effect from Tuesday to Friday.

Other areas—including Santa Ynez Valley, Ventura County Interior Valleys, Ventura County Coastal Valleys, Santa Monica Mountains, Santa Clarita Valley, San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley—could experience temperatures of 98 to 109 degrees Tuesday into Wednesday.

“Tuesday through Thursday should be the hottest, when highs between 100 and 110 and minimum humidities between 5 and 15 percent will be common over most mountains and lower mountains,” according to the NWS. “Monday night through Tuesday night is of particular concern, when north winds increase and enhance the warming and drying over the coasts and nearby valleys.”

The NWS is advising residents to drink plenty of fluids, stay out of the sun and reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening.

“Dozens (possibly hundreds) of daily record high maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be set over the next few days in California, Intermountain West, Desert Southwest, Rockies, and High Plains,” the NWS predicted Monday. “Excessive Heat Warnings and Watches as well as Heat Advisories are in effect. Given the heat, dry conditions, and gusty winds, Elevated to Critical Risks of fire weather are in place across the Great Basin and portions of southern California through at least Tuesday.”

Along with the heat wave, several areas in the Golden State are also experiencing a drought.

Last week, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned of “extreme and exceptional drought” conditions in northern and central California, as well as along the central California coast. The drought conditions have also expanded to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.

The heat wave and drought conditions are particularly concerning as hundreds of acres continue to burn across California.

There are currently four active wildfires of interest in the state—the Beale Fire, the Goose Fire, the Flats Fire and the Farm Fire—according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, also known as Cal Fire.

The Farm Fire, which started on June 9 in San Bernardino County, has burned 250 acres and is 90 percent contained.

The other three fires broke out on June 13. Of those fires, the Goose Fire in Amador County is the most contained at 30 percent. The Beale Fire is 20 percent contained and the Flats Fire in Riverside County has not been contained at all.

As of Monday, Cal Fire reported that 17,273 acres have been scorched in 3,151 incidents so far this year.

“As temperatures increase, do your part to prevent wildfires! Never drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush. A hot exhaust pipe can start fires that you won’t even see—until it’s too late!” Cal Fire tweeted on Sunday.

Newsweek reached out to the National Weather Service for additional comment but didn’t receive a response before publication.

A firefighting helicopter drops water toward a burning house of a suspected gunman of a shooting at a fire station on June 1, in Acton, California. California is bracing for its first major heat wave of the year as four fires are already raging in the Golden State.
Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images


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