Extreme heat worsens wildfire threat in Southwestern US

Tinderbox situation in California seen to worsen with extreme heat wave

Catastrophe & Flood

By Allie Sanchez

The extreme heat that has California in its grip is not expected to abate anytime soon.

An Accuweather report forecast temperatures going into three digits in Southern California over the next few weeks, with some areas of the Central Valley getting into 110 degrees Fahrenheit territory. Similarly, temperatures in Phoenix and Las Vegas are seen to overshoot the average by five to 10 degrees.

The heat wave has caused the outbreak of wildfires, among them in Erskine, 40 miles east of Bakersfield, California, which has already claimed two lives. It has already incinerated 35,000 acres in Kern County, California since it began last week. The fire has damaged 100 structures, and threatens an additional 1,500 structures in the surrounding area.

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Kern County as the fire exploded and began to threaten nearby homes.

But while a gradual increase in moisture is expected next week, it is seen to come with lightning induced wildfires.  Thunderstorms may hit Arizona and the mountains and deserts of California over the next week, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.

Lightning strikes could ignite new wildfires in the area and storm winds could cause move the blaze in erratic directions, posing a danger to fire fighters and homeowners.

Data from the National Interagency Fire Center showed that nearly 2 million acres have been burned by wildfires over the first six months of 2016, which reflects an increase of more than 100% compared to the same period last year.
 

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