Record-shattering heat wave bakes western US, raising drought and fire concerns [View all]

[I of the Eye]

Source: The Guardian

Katharine Gammon
Fri 18 Jun 2021 02.00 EDT

This week the temperatures hit 106F (41C) in Billings, in northern Montana. In Arizona, animals were scorching their paws on blistering asphalt. In Texas, authorities asked residents to limit cooking and cleaning to preserve a creaking power grid.

These were just some of the scenes emerging from one of the most excruciating heatwaves to ever hit the western United States this early in the year. From California to Montana, a staggering 40 million people are experiencing temperatures of 100F (38C) or hotter this week, and 50 million were under excessive heat warnings and heat advisories.

For many it is merely a hint of things to come as the planet warms amid the global heating crisis and such extreme events become more and more common.

Many cities across the American west have opened cooling stations and hydration stations to keep people safe from the dangerous temperatures – and the hottest months of the year are still expected to come.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/17/heat-wave-western-us-drought-fire

---

Hey, we don't need no stinkin' Deities to create a Hell. We'll do it all by ourselves, thank you very much!