.jpg)
8 hours ago
2
Article content
(Bloomberg) — Los Angeles and the US Southwest are set for a second record heat wave in two weeks as temperatures soar, potentially straining electric grids, melting snowpack and raising health risks.
THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.
- Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.
- Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.
- Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.
- National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.
- Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.
REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account.
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.
- Enjoy additional articles per month.
- Get email updates from your favourite authors.
THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.
Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.
- Access articles from across Canada with one account
- Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments
- Enjoy additional articles per month
- Get email updates from your favourite authors
Sign In or Create an Account
or
Article content
Tuesday’s high in downtown Los Angeles is forecast to reach 97F (36C), possibly climbing to 98F by Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. Commercial forecaster AccuWeather Inc. said temperatures may rise as high as 99F, which would tie March 29, 1879, for the warmest March reading on record.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Heat advisories and excessive heat warnings span parts of Nevada, Arizona and California, extending to San Francisco, with temperatures forecast to be 15F to 30F above normal.
Article content
By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
Article content
“The LA area really starts to fire up today,” said Tyler Roys, a meteorologist with AccuWeather. “Basically, it is record-breaking heat for many places.”
Article content
Through next Monday, 450 daily high-temperature records may be broken or threatened across the US, most in the West, the US Weather Prediction Center said. An additional 334 record warm overnight lows also may be set or tied.
Article content
The early heat will drive up energy demand as residents and businesses turn to air conditioning. It will also dry out vegetation, raising wildfire risk.
Article content
A bigger concern is faster snowmelt in the mountains, which would reduce this year’s water supplies for California and other western states. Unlike the eastern US, which typically receives regular rainfall, much of the West relies on winter storms and mountain snowpack as a natural reservoir that stores water through the winter and releases it gradually in the spring and summer.
Article content
Article content
“What we have to be worried about is this heat dome is going to start the melting process of the snow in the higher terrain,” Roys said, meaning that what the state needs in the summer “won’t be there.”
Article content
California had its second-warmest winter on record, according to the US National Centers for Environmental Information. All-time high temperatures in nine states have left the region with below-normal snowpack. As of March 12, Colorado had its lowest on record, the National Integrated Drought Information System said.
Article content
For California, the worst of the heat will last through Friday, said Brian Hurley, a senior branch forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. While such temperatures are typical in July, they are unusual for March and will force Californians and residents in other parts of the West to act as if summer has arrived.
Article content
“The biggest thing is it’s going to be unseasonably warm early,” Hurley said. “That is really the main story.”
Article content
English (US)