California’s Brutally Hot Month
The National Centers for Environmental Information has announced that California had its hottest month in history in July.
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The average temperature in California in July was 81.7 degrees Fahrenheit. However, many areas of the state saw temperatures higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
Record Breaking Heat
Because of this incredibly hot month, many regions of the Golden State even saw temperatures reach new highs they’d never seen before.
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For example, Palm Springs hit a new record at the beginning of the month, as temperatures hit 124 degrees Fahrenheit. Now, this is Palm Springs’ new record for the hottest day seen in the town.
Incredibly High Triple Digit Temperatures
Palm Springs isn’t the only California city that experienced triple-digit temperatures and record-breaking days in July.
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In the north of the state, the town of Redding also broke a new record after they experienced a temperature high of 119 degrees Fahrenheit. This also occurred at the beginning of the month during a heat wave.
The Hottest Place in California — and the World
Death Valley has long claimed to be the hottest place in both California and the world. So, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise to learn that this region also suffered under intense heat in July.
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According to the National Park Service (NPS), July was the hottest month ever for Death Valley.
Why This Summer Has Been So Hot
Scientists and researchers have come forth with a few reasons why this summer has been particularly brutal, especially in areas like California.
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For the most part, these higher temperatures have to do with the ongoing climate crisis. As the planet warms, regions like California are at the forefront of extreme weather situations.
Climate Change Causes Dangerous Weather
This summer, many dangerous and severe weather events have been seen throughout the world. However, California has also faced quite a few difficult situations, many of which are ongoing.
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For example, parts of the state are still battling raging wildfires that have destroyed homes, buildings, and forests.
The Fourth Largest Fire in California History
Dry vegetation and extremely high temperatures have only helped wildfires rage out of control quickly in the Golden State.
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Now, California firefighters are still battling the Park Fire, which is the fourth-largest fire in California history.
Extreme Temperatures Makes Fires More Intense
Officials have come out to explain that the extremely hot temperatures seen in California have only made these wildfires even more intense.
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This has made battling the fires quite hard, as it has put firefighters in many challenging conditions and situations.
Health Issues From Fires
These officials have also explained that many firefighters have begun to suffer from heat-related injuries while fighting these incredibly intense wildfires in July.
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As firefighters in California continue to battle rampaging blazes in different parts of the state, experts are concerned that these types of heat-related illnesses and injuries may become normal.
Heat Can Harm Regular People
Health experts have also warned the public that excessively hot days can also harm regular people up and down the coast of California.
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Extreme heat is considered to be the most deadly type of weather-related event. It can severely harm seniors, those who don’t have easy and constant access to air conditioning, and those who are unhoused.
A Difficult Summer on the West Coast
California isn’t alone in seeing extreme temperatures this summer. Other states on the West Coast also suffered from excessively hot days.
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For example, Las Vegas, Nevada broke a new record when it reached 120 Fahrenheit at the beginning of July. The city also set a record for the number of days temperatures were over 115 degrees Fahrenheit.