In Las Vegas, Nevada, the temperature reached 1110 degrees F. on June 17, at the start of the heatwave, and it was all downhill from that point as the city has made or passed that mark every day since then. If they reach 110 degrees on Monday, Los Vegas will have seen 110 degrees plus heat for 10 days straight.
Needles, California, Had a daytime temperature reading of 125 degrees F, the all-time highest temperature ever recorded, while Death Valley broke a previous record of 125 degrees to set a new one on June 24, when the mercury rose to 127 degrees F. But the heat wasn’t only confined to the daylight hours. Those cool desert nights didn’t materialize as temperatures only dropped into the 80s and 90s.
Relief from the heat begins tomorrow
The downward trend in temperatures is expected to last through midweek, according to forecasters. “The persistent area of high pressure that led to the scorching heat across the Southwest has finally weakened and is shifting out of the area, allowing temperatures to slowly fall back to near-normal levels for late June,” according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Kyle Brown.
But AccuWeather meteorologists warn that some areas will continue to have temperatures a little above normal heading into the Fourth of July weekend. And with no rain in the forecast, dry conditions will continue along with an increased risk of wildfires.
“Very little moisture will stream over the area, and gusty winds developing in the wake of the departing high-pressure system will couple with the dry conditions to raise the threat for wildfires,” Brown added.
Major fires already burning in a number of states
Mother Nature is not on our side when it comes to the wildfires blazing in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada. If anything, they may grow even larger and cover a larger area due to the already parched vegetation and gusting winds that are expected.
The weather service is warning everyone that lives in a fire-prone area to have an action plan if they need to evacuate. So please heed this advice, OK? And one other piece of advice to everyone who will be outdoors — Fully extinguish matches, cigarettes and campfires.
The Frye Fire in southern Arizona
The Frye fire in the Coronado National Forest covered over 37,000 acres by Sunday but the perimeter was 39 percent contained, according to CNN News. At least 943 personnel have been assigned to the fire, utilizing 31 engines with 26 crews, 10 helicopters, three dozers, 10 water tenders and 274 miscellaneous overhead craft.
Containment is primarily on the northeast side of the fire, and by Sunday, the focus was on containment on the west side, with a Type 1 firefighting team being brought in. They are the most experienced and have a diverse skill-set.
Brian Head Fire in southern Utah
The large Brian Head Fire that started seven days ago with a man burning weeds in his backyard, has now grown to over 43,000 acres, an area of about 67 square miles, forcing the evacuation of 1,500 residents in 13 communities. So far, 21 buildings, 13 of them homes, have been destroyed.
Over 1,140 personnel were now fighting the massive Brian Head Fire that started June 17, and as of Monday, it was 10 percent contained. The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands estimates it will take until July 15 to get the fire under control.
Many of the homes destroyed in the fire belonged to people living in Las Vegas who use them as vacation getaways. “You know there`s risk when you buy something in a forest, but you don`t anticipate it,” said Pam Junge, who owns a home in Deer Creek, according to Fox News. “You especially don`t anticipate it twice. We lost our home in Las Vegas in 2009 to a fire and had to rebuild. Lightning shouldn’t strike twice.”
