Heat warnings and overheating warnings have been issued in areas of about half a dozen states, and daily records could be broken in more than 75 cities. In areas across California, the Great Basin, southwest and Texas, daytime temperatures are expected to rise 10 to 20 degrees above normal, according to a forecast by the National Weather Service on Friday, which has issued warnings or warnings in areas affecting nearly 38 million people. The night temperatures will offer little relief, escalating the health risks from the first extreme heat event to another hot summer. Heatwave’s first record! ΠροηγούThe previous record was 2016. # NeedlesWxRecords pic.twitter.com/qWqTgqnETv – NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) June 10, 2022 The high temperatures will also lay the groundwork for a series of catastrophic deteriorations in the west, which will deplete moisture from already arid landscapes. About 44% of the American West is categorized as extreme drought this week, according to the US Dought Monitor. Punitive weather also increases the risk of fire and contributes to poor air quality. “Elevated temperatures, which boost ozone levels and increase the emissions of chemicals that lead to ozone formation, combined with light winds, can cause unusually high and persistent levels of ozone pollution,” said the South Coast on a heat wave warning. that poor air quality is expected to remain in areas in Southern California until the weekend. In Arizona, Phoenix and Yuma are forecast to be just 46 degrees Celsius on Saturday, when the heat peaks across the region. Blythe and El Centro in California will be at or above this temperature. Las Vegas will reach 44 degrees Celsius during the heatwave, the National Meteorological Service announced. Dangerous conditions come as summer recreation and outdoor activities begin to increase, but officials have warned residents and visitors to the affected areas to stay away from the effects. In response to their calls, the University of California, Davis interrupted the opening ceremony on Friday while it was in progress. Their school has scheduled a special event on Sunday. I get many reports that alumni and family members at the start of UC Davis suffered from heat exhaustion — with some requiring medical attention. Hopefully nothing too serious. The ceremony was interrupted before many students left the stage. – Caleb Hampton (@calebmhampton) June 10, 2022 Extreme temperatures are expected to increase in both frequency and intensity in the coming decades, fueled by the climate crisis. The models indicate that there could be between 25 and 30 extreme events per year by the middle of the century – an average of between four and six historical years – and that they would also cover wider areas of the area than before. An often silent killer taking more lives than any other type of extreme weather, rising temperatures pose significant risks to public health that will worsen as the world warms. A study by the LA Times published last year found that heat deaths are incredibly high in California and that the death toll could be up to six times higher than the official estimate. Authorities have warned residents to prepare. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check on relatives and neighbors,” the National Weather Service warned, adding that children and pets should never be left in cars unattended. While the heat is dangerous for everyone, the effects of extreme temperatures are becoming more pronounced among vulnerable populations, including homeless people and workers working outside. Homeless people are about 200 times more likely to die from heat-related causes, said David Hondula, a climate scientist who heads the Phoenix City Office of Reaction and Temperature. “We had some previous heat waves this year, but not as intense as this one or as long,” National Meteorological Service meteorologist Alex Tardy said in a video update, noting that the hottest days will be Friday and Saturday, but warmer. the weather will continue until the middle of the month. “These are important temperatures and temperatures that are dangerous for everyone, if you do not take precautions.” The Associated Press contributed to the publication