Millions of people in California, Nevada, and Arizona were warned to expect dangerous conditions for at least some of the weekend, with the National Weather Service advising residents to stay out of the sun.
While the region was usually heated up at this time of year, forecasters warned it would be considerably hotter than the average. Inland and desert areas of California would be particularly hot on Friday and Saturday, with the tourist city of Palm Springs expected to hit 45 degrees, while nearby Ocotillo Wells could reach 47 degrees.
“We’ve had some prior heat waves this year, but not as intense as this one or as long duration,” San Diego weather service meteorologist, Alex Tardy, said.The World Health Organisation says excessive heat stresses the body, and increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular disease. “Heatwaves can acutely impact large populations for short periods of time, often trigger public health emergencies, and result in excess mortality, and cascading socioeconomic impacts,” the WHO says on its website.