Record-shattering heat wave bakes western US, raising drought and fire concerns

[I of the Eye]

Source: The Guardian

Katharine Gammon
Fri 18 Jun 2021 02.00 EDT

This week the temperatures hit 106F (41C) in Billings, in northern Montana. In Arizona, animals were scorching their paws on blistering asphalt. In Texas, authorities asked residents to limit cooking and cleaning to preserve a creaking power grid.

These were just some of the scenes emerging from one of the most excruciating heatwaves to ever hit the western United States this early in the year. From California to Montana, a staggering 40 million people are experiencing temperatures of 100F (38C) or hotter this week, and 50 million were under excessive heat warnings and heat advisories.

For many it is merely a hint of things to come as the planet warms amid the global heating crisis and such extreme events become more and more common.

Many cities across the American west have opened cooling stations and hydration stations to keep people safe from the dangerous temperatures – and the hottest months of the year are still expected to come.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jun/17/heat-wave-western-us-drought-fire

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Hey, we don't need no stinkin' Deities to create a Hell. We'll do it all by ourselves, thank you very much!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. ... and Texas is still disfunctional. But hey, they got gunz in their pocket & a wall on the way

They can relax knowing the RepubliQons are taking good care of them their paymasters.

[catrose]

19. The temperature just hit the 90s last week

I’m still trying to figure out why that’s unusual.

[2naSalit]

2. Except Billings is not in northern Montana.

[GusBob]

9. No shit

It was 37 degrees here Weds nite. We will be lucky to get above 80 for the next week

[2naSalit]

17. It's pretty warm further south of you...

But not that killer hot stuff. I can live with 80s, beyond that I wilt.

[Maxheader]

3. Wish I could direct....

the tropical storm their way...

[Warpy]

4. I wish you could, too

The only word for this is brutal, it's a repeat of last summer when temperatures were triple digit for weeks and the monsoons failed completely. Everything is parched and we're choking on smoke from fires in NM and AZ.

This really sucks.

[2naSalit]

18. I'm bracing for the part where...

We all become thre-pack-a-day smokers involuntarily.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

5. Public Safety Power Shutoffs

Coming soon, to a region near you.

[roamer65]

12. They are getting ever closer to shutting off hydroelectric on Glen Canyon and Boulder Dam.

FDR named it Boulder Dam and I still respect that naming.

Fuck Hoover.

[OneCrazyDiamond]

24. Amazing that is even possible.

Damned Republicans need to be knocked out of politics. They are too dangerous to have any influence over the next decade. The Earth needs us to behave like adults.

[roamer65]

25. A lot MORE is possible at 500 ppm of GHG's.

We are definitely going to see “interesting” times in our immediate future.

Just wait till the 20 percent or so cognitive impairment hits at 1000 ppm CO2.

Yes, we are actually getting dumber!

[Archae]

6. Even up here in Wisconsin!

88 later today...ick.

[IronLionZion]

7. I wish we could send some of the east coast rain out west nt

[OneCrazyDiamond]

8. Actually

If we can pipe sandy tar from canada, why not water across country?

[roamer65]

11. I'll take every ounce of water in order to fill up the Great Lakes.

...and we are definitely not going to pipe it ANYWHERE.

[IronLionZion]

16. Why do you hate the west coast?

[roamer65]

21. The western US is beautiful.

Last edited Fri Jun 18, 2021, 03:12 PM - Edit history (1)

Problem now is that it is overpopulated.

Damn humans shit in their nest everywhere they go.

If they want plentiful fresh water, move east.

[maxsolomon]

28. The DESERT US is overpopulated

CA, AZ, NV - all dependent on the Colorado for drinking water, power (and agriculture); all in a massive drought.

The PNW has plenty of water, and could fit more people - if it had to.

[roamer65]

32. Question is do you want all of the climate refugees up there?

Not only are we talking the southwest US, we are talking Mexico and Central America as well.

The farther south of the border one goes, the hotter it is going to get.

In about 20-30 years, this is going to become a Canadian problem as well.

You are damn right the desert Southwest US is WAY overpopulated, btw.



.

[maxsolomon]

33. It's inevitable that there will be a migration out of uninhabitable regions.

I mainly don't want all the forests to burn and glaciers to melt.

There's still room in the Midwest, everyone!

[roamer65]

34. I expect we are going to gain a lot.

The fresh water of the Great Lakes.

[Coventina]

10. Fake news. I was assured by a DUer that these temps in late June are totally normal.

Nothing to see here.....

[peoli]

13. Lets talk about it for another 10 years before we take bold action

[Kaleva]

23. What are you doing in working to adapt to Climate Change?

I assume you are well versed on what is happening and is expected to happen in the near future where you reside.

As the effects of Climate Change will not be uniform around the world, some regions will be devastated while others will become more hospitable for human habitation, it would behoove people to learn what is expected to happen where they currently live and make adjustments. Adjustments that may involve moving.

[maxsolomon]

29. did you see the sarcasm smilie?

it's just an ironic comment.

[hatrack]

27. A time-tested, effective approach!

[Kali]

14. it was bad this week, but could feel it seemed to break yesterday

still hot as fuck but not so intense you think the world is ending.

[BigmanPigman]

26. It is cooler in San Diego too.

The hottest was 85 but the cool nights made it bareable. The coast stayed cool. Now it is 71 outside so I hope this is a sign of a good change coming to other areas.

[peoli]

15. I wish we had some BOLD Leadership in this country on Climate Change

We should be leading the world. We should be setting the example for the rest of the world to follow

[Kaleva]

22. As Climate Change is already here, what to you propose be done?

To stop the approach of the worst of it, we'd have to reduce current emissions to net zero, like right now, and also develop the technology to remove the greenhouse gases already placed in the atmosphere by human activity.

[peoli]

31. Yeah like yesterday. We've been talking about it for 40 years

Al Gore was mocked and pushed to side, many Democrats todaymock the green new deal, the media has no idea how to talk about it and then there's the epic ignorance on the right.

Even in the debates it barely mentioned and when Bernie Sanders would bring it up it was too much, it costs to much, its not realistic etc or F Bernie

People don't get it

I don't know what to do about it

Elect people who understand what's happening and that have the courage to radically change things

[Kaleva]

35. The only thing you yourself can do is to adapt as best you can.

[NickB79]

30. In 20 yr, this will be normal summer temps

Just remember: we're now living in the coolest climate the planet will see for hundreds of thousands of years.

The last time we had CO2 levels this high, there were forests in the Arctic and alligators in Minnesota.

[ck4829]

36. K&R

Last edited Tue Jun 29, 2021, 12:42 PM - Edit history (1)

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