California Faces Unprecedented Heat Wave

Summary:
California is experiencing one of the most severe heat waves in recent memory, with temperatures ranging from 100 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit and lasting potentially over a week. Inland areas, particularly deserts and valleys, are expected to be hardest hit, with minimal relief at night. The National Weather Service has issued warnings about the extreme danger and potential lethality of this heat wave, which is driven by a powerful heat dome and exacerbated by climate change.
Over 70% of the state is under an excessive-heat warning, with cities like Redding, Sacramento, and Palm Springs among those affected. Temperatures in Death Valley could approach 130 degrees, nearing the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth. The heat wave is also increasing the risk of wildfires, with the Thompson Fire in Northern California already having grown to over 3,000 acres.
The extreme heat is expected to persist for at least a week, with forecasts indicating a high risk of heat-related illnesses, especially for vulnerable populations. This heat wave comes during what is already the hottest year on record globally, with human-caused climate change making such events more probable.