California and the western United States are hit by an unprecedented heat wave

A gigantic dome of heat currently encompasses the American West: this area of ​​high pressures trap theair warm southwestern United States (Arizona, California), to western Canada (British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan) via the northern United States (Montana, North Dakota).

Temperatures almost everywhere exceed 30°C, and even 40°C locally. The peak of intensity of this heat wave takes place this Tuesday, after a Monday already marked by many records:

• 47.2°C in Fairfield (near San Francisco) in California, an absolute heat record;
• 44.4°C in Stockton, California, a September heat record;
• 40°C in Reno, Nevada, a record heat for September;
• 40°C in Salt Lake City, Utah, a record heat for September.

The city of San Diego, California also had a record low temperature heat in any month, with 25.5°C recorded in the middle of the night.

In Canada, the intense heat peaked last Saturday, with 39.6°C in Lytton, British Columbia, the hottest September day on record there.

Fires, hurricanes and power outages

This extreme heat wave increases the risk of fires, which are already numerous in California today. The heat wave should continue until Friday or Saturday, with a significant risk of power cuts: this day of Tuesday will probably be marked by a record of electricity consumption linked to the air conditioner. On the Pacific Ocean side, warm waters allowed Tropical Storm Kay to become a hurricane off the eastern coast of Mexico. This one won’t reach California, but will cause severe weather by raising the level of humidity in the already stuffy air.