Record Temperatures and Biggest Wildfires Ever in California Showing No Sign of Letting Up

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Map shows record temperatures across the country in July. Credit: NOAA

The past month has been a climatological nightmare for California, with record hot temperatures and the biggest wildfires ever, and indications are that it wonโ€™t be letting up anytime soon, writes Newsweek.

California posted its hottest month on record in July, with a statewide average of 79.7 degrees and an average of 108.1 in the Death Valleyโ€”the highest all-time temperature record for any weather station in the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It is still facingย high temperatures, with heat warnings issued throughout the state by the National Weather Service.

Carr fire, Ferguson fire, california
Carr Fire. Credit: BBC

The hot temperatures are contributing to the wildfires, making conditions drier and more conducive to burning. Thus, itโ€™s no coincidence thatย Californiaโ€™s record-hot Julyย had the biggest wildfires the state has ever seen. The increasing heat drives off clouds that typically keep temperatures down in California, helping ward off wildfire spreading.

โ€œCloud cover is plummeting in southern coastal California,โ€ saidย Park Williams, a bioclimatologist at Columbia Universityโ€™s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and lead author of a study on the subject.ย โ€œAnd as clouds decrease, that increases the chance of bigger and more intense fires.โ€

These California cities were among those experiencing their hottest average temperatures: Palm Springs:ย 97.4ย (previously 97.2ย in July 2006); Fresno:ย 88.2ย (previously 87.8ย in July 2006); Bishop,ย 81.8ย (previously 80.8ย in July 2017); and Blue Canyon:ย 74.2ย (previously 73.7ย in August 2012).

carr fire, california, smoke, colorado, Utah, Oregon, Texas
Wildfire smoke has blown from California and Oregon far to the east, as seen in this image acquired by the GOES-16 weather satellite on Sunday, July 29, 2018. Credit: RAMMB/CIRA/SLIDER

Wildfire smoke from California now reaches halfway across the United States,ย according to the Environmental Protection Agency, and much of Canada. Levels in many areas are considered dangerous, with high levels of fine particulate pollution. States showingย significant impact from the wildfires include California, Oregon and Nevada.

The California forecast calls for more hot, dry weatherย in the weeks ahead, meaning that there wonโ€™t be anyย relief for some 14,000 firefighters battling the wildfires.

โ€œOther than a fluctuating sea breeze along the California coast that may play with temperature and humidity levels a bit, people in the region should not expect any blasts of cool air or widespread drenching rainfall anytime soon in the southwestern corner of the nation,โ€ saidย AccuWeather.

Any lasting change could be months away. The National Weather Service said breezy conditions could return to the area of the Mendocino Complex Fire onย Thursday afternoon andย last through the weekend.


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