California faces extreme heat that may push power supply to brink
Al JazeeraThe historic heat wave in the US state – with temperatures reaching up to 44C – is also adding to the already high wildlife risk and record drought. California and neighboring states are facing another historic heat wave that may push power supplies to the brink and is adding to already high wildfire risk amid record drought. “The heat wave will pretty much peak today through Sunday,” said Lara Pagano, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. “By the time we get into Monday and Tuesday things will be improving but they are still going to be toasty.” The fresh round of heat comes just days after records toppled across Oregon, Washington and British Columbia and authorities attributed hundreds of deaths to extreme weather seen as the latest evidence of climate change. The year’s first half, the third warmest in the 127-year record, also includes eight disasters causing at least $1 billion in losses from heat, drought, hail, floods, tornadoes and the deep freeze that paralyzed Texas.