West Coast is facing a blast of heat. How long will it last?
Millions of people in western states are facing triple-digit temperatures this week.
Most valley locales in California and Arizona are expected to see near record highs of 10 to 20 degrees above average. Excessive heat advisories will be in effect through Friday for millions in Oregon, California, Arizona and Nevada.
Forecasting models suggest the heat will continue at least through Friday, with temperatures between 90 and 110 degrees.
Western states see excessive heat
"September is actually a fairly hot month overall, being as far southwest as they are, and as dry as the climate is," said Heather Zehr, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather. Those states "tend to reach their peak normal averages at the end of August and beginning of September."
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How to recognize heat illnesses
According to the National Weather Service's HeatRisk index, this "major to extreme heat" will put everyone without access to cooling and hydration − including healthy adults − at risk for heat-related illnesses.
Excessive heat and humidity make it difficult for your body to regulate its temperature. Understanding the symptoms of extreme heat exposure and managing its effects can be crucial.
Here are some of the signs and symptoms of heat illness, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A climate shift
One of the most climate-sensitive regions in the nation is the West, where climate change has more frequently affected temperatures.
The Climate Shift Index below shows how much climate change is expected to influence the temperature on Friday. Positive levels on the index – which can range from 0 to +5 – show where climate change is more often contributing to temperatures.
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For instance, a Climate Shift Index level 5 indicates that compared with a world free of carbon pollution produced by humans, a temperature is occurring five times more frequently.
CONTRIBUTING Chirstopher Cann, Cybele Mayes-Osterman and Jim Sergent, Paste BN; Laura Daniella Sepulveda, Arizona Republic
SOURCE National Weather Service, ClimateCentral.org, Paste BN research