First Heat Wave of Season to Bake West, Increasing Wildfire Risk

Extreme heat levels of are expected in the western United States later this week, raising the risk wildfires and heat-related illnesses and putting a strain on power grids.

Meteorologists at AccuWeather say a strong dome of high pressure will be the region’s first heatwave of the season, sending temperatures to near are above record highs from Thursday through Saturday.

The most intense heat is expected to be centered across California, Nevada and western Utah, according to AccuWeather, which is forecasting a high of 107 degrees in Redding, California on Friday that would beat a record of 104 degrees set in 2021. A high of 103 degrees is forecast for Sacramento, which would tie the record set in 1910.

The weather service is forecasting a high of 107 degrees in Las Vegas, Nevada, Friday, which would break the record of 106 degrees set in 2002. A high of 96 degrees in Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday, would break the record of 94 degrees set in 2020.

Highs could exceed 110 degrees or higher in some areas at times. Cities closer to the Pacific coast, including Los Angeles and San Francisco, will be spared from the extreme heat.

Meteorologists warn that the combination of intense to extreme heat, low humidity, and dry vegetation will increase the risk of wildfires sparking and spreading across the region.

AccuWeather says overall summer temperatures are expected to be roughly 2 to 3 degrees or higher than the historical average this year across much of interior California and the western U.S.