AN INTENSE heatwave with temperatures hotter than the Sahara will scorch the west coast this weekend as over 20million residents brace for the dangerous conditions.
The thermometers across California, Nevada and Arizona will crack the 100s through the rest of the week in what experts attribute to as “heat dome” conditions.
A “heat dome” occurs when high pressure traps concentrations of hot air over an area and blocks other weather systems from moving in, leading to sweltering conditions.
The National Weather Service has warned residents to prepare for severe heat conditions after temperatures in Phoenix rose to 107 degrees on Tuesday.
The San Diego desert areas will see temperatures reach up to 117 degrees.
In comparison, forecasts for the Sahara over the next ten days show highs of only 103 degrees.
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Temperatures are expected to peak by Friday, which is predicted to be the week’s hottest day in most locations.
“Hot daytime temperatures with warm overnight lows will create a high risk of heat-related impacts for the general population,” the NWS said.
The scorching temperatures will exceed those in the Shara Desert.
The condition will be so hot that people could “quickly succumb to the effects of these dangerous temperatures,” the NWS warned.
“This heat will impact everyone, not just those sensitive to heat risk,” The NWS office in Sacramento tweeted.
According to AccuWeather, the affected areas will experience their hottest temperatures of the year so far.
“A northward bulge in the jet stream will expand and strengthen late in the week, especially from Thursday through Saturday,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson said.
Experts are warning residents about the risks of heat-related illnesses like heat exhaustion and heatstrokes.
Forecasters say residents should limit their outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and should stay well-hydrated.
Most heat-related alerts are expected to phase out by Saturday evening or Sunday evening, depending on the region.
The record temperatures come days after the first tropical storm of the year drenched parts of South Florida over the weekend.
Parts of Florida experienced severe flooding and rainy weather as Tropical Storm Alex passed through the state and moved toward Bermuda.
Hours after the storm had passed, the roads of Miami-Dade county were flooded with water leaving many cars stranded.
There were multiple reports of flooded cars that had to get towed from where they were.
First responders used high water rescue vehicles to assist people to safety who were stranded in the waters.
The storm dropped 12 inches of rain on downtown Miami and over nine and a half inches on South Miami.
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The Atlantic hurricane season officially started on June 1. This is an unusually early start to the season, but it’s not unprecedented in Florida.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that this season will be “above-normal” and is expecting 14 to 21 named storms.
