Sudden California heatwave as forecasters warn millions

A heatwave will roast California and Arizona, with temperatures soaring as high as 114 degrees, levels more typical of peak summer than early May — as forecasters warn millions could face serious health risks over the next few days.

The scorcher raises alarms because it arrives before many residents have acclimatized to prolonged extreme heat, increasing dangers of heat exhaustion, heat stroke and respiratory problems, especially as worsening air quality compounds the threat, reported Newsweek.

The National Weather Service has issued a mix of extreme heat warnings and heat advisories spanning from the Phoenix metro area to California’s interior valleys and desert regions.

In the southeastern California and southern Arizona deserts, including Imperial Valley, the Salton Sea area, Yuma, and the Coachella Valley, temperatures are forecast to range from 100 to 114 degrees through Sunday and Monday under extreme heat warnings.

Phoenix typically sees May highs between 90 and 99 degrees, making this week’s temperatures several degrees above seasonal norms and more in line with early summer.

Medical experts warn that even short bursts of extreme heat can strain multiple body systems, significantly increasing the risk of hospitalization and death.

The Environmental Protection Agency cautioned that urban residents could face heightened danger due to the “urban heat island” effect, in which roads and buildings trap heat, keeping nighttime temperatures elevated and limiting the body’s ability to recover between scorching days.

Large sections of California are also under heat advisories, though conditions there are expected to be slightly less severe.

In the Inland Empire, including Riverside and San Bernardino counties, temperatures are expected to hit 95 to 101 degrees Monday.

Across the San Joaquin Valley — including Fresno, Bakersfield and Modesto — highs could reach up to 102 degrees through Monday and Tuesday.

Parts of Northern and Central California are forecast to reach mid-90s to near 100 degrees on Monday and Tuesday.

These lower temperatures still represent an elevated risk for early May, when much milder weather is typically expected.

Forecasters are urging residents to take precautions during peak afternoon heat, including drinking water regularly, limiting strenuous outdoor activity, using air conditioning or cooling centers, wearing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing, checking on elderly neighbors, children, and pets, and never leaving kids or animals in cars.

The heatwave also collides with the air quality alerts across parts of California and Arizona, creating a double health threat as polluted air and extreme temperatures combine to increase risks, especially during the afternoon hours when both dangers peak.

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