The science behind California’s worsening heat waves explained
A late-summer heat wave has nestled itself into the California-Nevada border, bringing potentially record-breaking temperatures across the state. Heat could reach dangerous levels in the Bay Area, with forecasts of triple-digit temperatures in some areas. The cause? A heat dome. This atmospheric lid is trapping hot air over the Western U.S., triggering intense heat forecast to last for several days, with temperatures spiking in Northern California amid Labor Day weekend celebrations. In the U.S., heat kills more people in an average year than other weather extremes — more than torrential floods, tornadoes and cold snaps.
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- CBS – San Diego: Experts say, continuous heat wave is a sign of what’s to come
- Los Angeles Times: California heat waves are getting worse. Blame the vicious ‘heat dome’