Record heat and drought in the US west could spell disaster

Record heat and drought in the US west could spell disaster
Record heat and drought in the US west could spell disaster

The dual threats of heat and drought could spell disaster for communities along the US west coast, as the region faces the potential for record temperatures this weekend and more in store for the summer.

With a heat wave gripping much of the region for over the past week, the threat for wildfires, blackouts and water shortages only increases as it experiences its worst drought in 20, and potentially even 1,200 years if it continues, and even hotter conditions are expected for this weekend.

Already, temperatures have reached 116 degrees in Las Vegas and 115 degrees in Phoenix. On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a statewide emergency, warning that the state's power grid was under stress due to the heat, and called on residents to conserve electricity. 

It's likely to get worse, with places in the northwest such as Portland, Oregon and Redding, California potentially in for temperatures topping 112 degrees and 113 degrees respectively this weekend.

And it's only the start of summer. 

Much of the western United States is experiencing some of the worst drought conditions it has seen in 20, and potentially even 1,200 years

Much of the western United States is experiencing some of the worst drought conditions it has seen in 20, and potentially even 1,200 years

Drought conditions were far less severe around this time last year, and the area still experienced devastating wildfires, potentially heralding an even worse season this year

Drought conditions were far less severe around this time last year, and the area still experienced devastating wildfires, potentially heralding an even worse season this year

The high temperatures are even more troubling with much of the southwest and west coast in the midst of extreme drought conditions. 

'This doesn’t bode well, in terms of what we can expect with wildfire and the worsening drought,' Kathleen Johnson, an associate professor of Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine told The Guardian

'This current drought is potentially on track to become the worst that we’ve seen in at least 1,200 years,' she said. 

The extreme conditions could put the area on track for another devastating wildfire season. 

Temperatures in the northwest are expected to reach triple digits this weekend as record-breaking heat waves wash over the region

Temperatures in the northwest are expected to reach triple digits this weekend as record-breaking heat waves wash over the region 

Already cities in the region have broken heat records this week

Already cities in the region have broken heat records this week

Last year 4million acres burned in California and 1.07million in Oregon, with roughly 713,000 in Washington. 

The record blazes killed at least 47 people and destroyed 13,887 buildings.

Already fires have broken out in Arizona and Utah, according to Daniel Swain a climate

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