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Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Shock as tourist hotspot's runway heats up to 163F during record heatwave
The Southern California tourist hotspot of Palm Springs saw record high temperatures this week - with the local airport's tarmac reaching a scorching 163 degrees. ABC reporter Trevor Ault captured the staggering reading on the asphalt at Palm Springs International Airport on Thursday, the same day the city set a daily heat record. The mercury climbed to a staggering 118 degrees in the popular vacation destination, beating the city's August 7 record of 116 degrees recorded in 1980, The Desert Sun reported. That is just below the all-time high of 124 degrees recorded on July 5, 2024. National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser explained that the cause of the extreme heat was high pressure that settled over the southwest over the past week. He noted that sweltering temperatures are expected to peak in Southern California next week before gradually dropping. The temperature is expected to return to its seasonal average by next Thursday. Planes struggle in warm weather because hot air is less dense, reducing lift and engine performance. This makes it harder for planes to take off and climb. In hot conditions, aircrafts need longer runways to get the necessary takeoff speed because of the reduced lift. Airlines are often forced to compensate for the obstacles posed by extreme weather by reducing passenger and cargo load or delaying flights. 'The hotter it is, the more airplane performance is degraded,' John Cox, a former pilot and chief executive of Safety Operating Systems, told the New York Times. Palm Springs International Airport sees roughly 8,870 visitors each day and 3.2 million in a year, according to data from 2023. As of 2022, an average of 44 flights departed from the airport each day, with 16,254 leaving that year. It's unclear whether any flights were delayed or affected on Thursday due to the extreme weather conditions.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Scorcher! Palm Springs sets heat record Thursday. Here's how hot it got across desert
Palm Springs set a daily heat record Thursday and, when all is set and done, Thermal may have, too. National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser told The Desert Sun Thursday afternoon that while official temperature readings for the day had yet to be finalized, he could say confidently that Palm Springs International Airport had broken the Aug. 7 record of 116 degrees, which was set in 1980. Unofficial readings showed the temperature reached 118 degrees multiple times Thursday afternoon. The Coachella Valley's other official weather measuring site in Thermal had so far reached 116 degrees, just shy of the previous Aug. 7 record of 117 degrees. Whatever the highs for the day end up being, they will come in well above the average Aug. 7 high for Palm Springs of 107 degrees. But Palm Springs will also be a few degrees shy of matching it's all time high temperature for the entire month of August: 122 degrees set on Aug. 4, 2021. That high was just two degrees shy of the all-time of 124 degrees set on July 5, 2024. Roser explains that the sweltering temperatures are the result of a large area of high pressure that's settled over the southwestern US over the past week, growing stronger and bigger and making for increasingly hot weather. He said the hot temperatures were expected to peak in Southern California with the high then expected to gradually decline over the next week and be around to the seasonal average by next Thursday. Weather forecast for Palm Springs area Friday An extreme heat warning issued by the National Weather Service for both the Coachella Valley and desert areas of San Diego County earlier Thursday will remain in effect through 8 p.m. Friday. The current forecasted high for Palm Springs Friday is 113 degrees. Smog alert issued through Saturday Adding to the discomfort for valley residents is smog that has at times been present in the valley. South Coast AQMD issued an ozone alert Thursday afternoon that encompasses the full Coachella Valley and extends west through the Inland Empire through much of the San Fernando Valley. Ozone alerts are often referred to as smog alerts. The agency wrote that the ongoing multiday smog event is the result of both the heatwave and the presence of smoke produced by several wildfires currently burning in Southern California. As of around 4:30 p.m., the air quality was rated either 'moderate' or 'good' across the Coachella Valley, according to South Coast AQMD's hourly air quality map. But in large swaths of the Inland Empire and the San Fernando Valley, it was rated either 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' or just 'unhealthy.' The alert is set to expire at 8 p.m. Saturday, with smog levels expected to generally follow a pattern where they start increasing after sunrise, peak in the midafternoon and then decrease again. However, the agency said areas close to wildfires could see high smog levels throughout the day. Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Email him at This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs area-breaks Aug. 7 heat record. How hot was it? Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
California fires are burning, incoming heat wave could make things worse
Authorities in California are bracing themselves for a prolongued heat wave this week that could amplify the risks of a wildfire and intensify fires already burning in the southern and central portions of the state. The warming trend is forecast to bake almost all of inland California over the next week, dialing up the heat on what's already been a fiery summer in the state's southern half, and raising the risks up north after a relatively quiet start to the season. 'This week will definitely bring those elevated fire weather conditions," said Adam Roser, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in San Diego. In Southern California, "the vegetation is still very dry. ... [and] these are definitely some of the hotter temperatures we've seen so far this summer." Southern California's hottest days are expected to be Wednesday through Friday, when much of the interior is under heat advisories as temperatures are forecast to range from the upper 90s to the triple digits across many valleys and deserts. Palm Springs could reach up to 118 on Thursday while downtown Los Angeles could hit 90. Weather service officials warn that there will be an increased risk for heat sickness and fires to start and grow out of control. Read more: California is on pace for its worst wildfire year in recent memory, and SoCal is mostly to blame Already, much of inland Southern California is under a wildfire smoke advisory from three large fires burning in the region: the Gifford fire in Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties — now California's largest blaze of the year at 82,000 acres, the Rosa fire in Riverside County and the Gold fire in San Bernardino County. Inland Northern California will see temperatures climb by this weekend, when highs are forecast to reach into the triple digits across many areas. Parts of the Sacramento Valley could reach 107, while areas of the state's northwest corner could see highs of 105 to 113. In the San Francisco Bay Area away from the coast, highs could reach into upper 90s. Although the fire threat there remained unseasonably low for much of July, the weather service warned that vegetation has started to dry out and will continue to do so as temperatures rise. "The warming trend we're forecast to have will only compound our concerns," said Matt Mahle, a Bay Area meteorologist at the weather service who pointed out that the region has seen several small fires over the last week. But luckily, strong winds aren't forecast to mix with this heat wave, which could result in a deadly wildfire recipe. Still, the scenario this week has the potential for dangerous conditions, with a easy-to-burn vegetation, high temperatures and low humidity. Officials say those conditions can help foster fires that can create their own winds. That phenomena, known as a plume-dominated fire, has been spotted several times by crews fighting the Gifford fire, where massive smoke plumes have shot hundreds of feet in the air, then collapsed on itself, creating localized wind gusts. The Gifford fire, burning mostly in the Los Padres National Forest along mountains in the Central Coast, was only 7% contained as of Tuesday morning, with a major stretch of State Route 166, east of Santa Maria, still closed, according to the latest update from the U.S. Forest Service. More than 500 homes in nearby rural communities have been evacuated, officials said, and almost 900 structures remain threatened as the fire continues to grow. Crews there have been battling the flames in 90-degree heat since last week, but are bracing for temperatures near 100 through Friday, which will create more challenging conditions and increase fire behavior, said Santa Barbara County Fire Capt. Scott Safechuck. "And then for the firefighters, they're exerting themselves in extreme temperatures," Safechuck said. Crews also are battling two smaller fires in inland Southern California, both of which ignited Monday. The Rosa fire in the Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside County appeared to be holding at 1,2000 acres as of Tuesday morning, though evacuation orders remained in place. In the San Bernardino County mountains, the Gold fire burned through 348 acres Monday and remained at that size Tuesday morning, despite officials reporting challenging conditions, including short-range spot fires and rugged terrain. Neither the Rosa fire nor the Gold fire had any containment as of Tuesday morning. Read more: Southern California on alert for severe wildfires after dry winter These active fires only add to an exceptionally busy fire year, which is looking like it could be California's worst year in recent memory. Southern and Central California have driven that active start to the year, recording several major fires, including Los Angeles County's unprecedented January firestorms. But officials say there's still a lot of time for things to change, as late summer and early fall are often the busiest time. This week's heat wave is expected to exacerbate those challenges. 'These are definitely some of the hotter temperatures we've seen so far this summer,' said Roser, the meteorologist in San Diego. "This might be one of the longer [heat waves] this year." A widespread heat advisory has been issued for much of San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties from Wednesday through Friday, with highs expected in the Inland Empire up to 105. San Diego County's valleys could see temperatures peak around 102, while inland Orange County, the Santa Ana Mountains and the San Bernardino Mountains will reach into the 90s. An extreme heat warning will be in effect Wednesday through Friday for the Coachella Valley, the San Gorgonio Pass near Banning, the San Diego County deserts and into California's southeastern deserts, with highs expected to reach 106 to 118. "An extreme heat warning means that a period of very hot temperatures, even by local standards, will occur. Actions should be taken to lessen the impact of the extreme heat," the warning said. "Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency!" The weather service's heat risk map warns of widespread moderate risk across Southern California on Thursday, with a major risk across the low desert. The coast will be largely spared. Much of inland Northern California will see a moderate heat risk by Saturday. In the L.A. area, officials are expecting triple-digit temperatures in the hottest valleys and high deserts Thursday and Friday, including Santa Clarita and Lancaster, while highs are forecast to reach into the 90s in Sherman Oaks and Pasadena. Bryan Lewis, a weather service meteorologist in Oxnard, said that Southern California could come close to reaching its hottest day this year on Thursday, when the heat wave is expected to peak in the Southland. Temperatures should fall slightly by the weekend, but remain several degrees above average for days, possibly through next Wednesday, Lewis said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
