US weather: Killer 54C heatwave sparks major warnings across America

Some seven states reaching from Northern Idaho to Arizona are on alert for wildfires after swathes of the region were hit by a weekend blaze.

AccuWeather meteorologist Bernie Rayno said: “Intense heat baking parts of the interior West is expected to expand into the Pacific Northwest, raising the risk of heat-related illnesses and fresh wildfires.

“Temperatures are forecast to soar 10-20 degrees above historical averages in parts of the interior Northwest, challenging daily record high temperatures.

“There is a ‘high’ risk for wildfires in parts of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Montana, and Wyoming, and the ‘high’ risk for wildfires will shift further northwest [this] week.”

Violent storms triggered by extreme heat will drive the risk of fires as lightning strikes parched ground.

The ‘dry thunderstorm’ threat will be highest in regions kept under the rainless heat dome will drive the risk of fires.

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This includes The Pacific Northwest, driest at this time of year, with the National Interagency Fire Centre reporting 50 large blazes since the start of last week.

The US National Weather Service has wildfire alerts in force across Washington, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Nevada, California and Arizona.

While the central heartland will enjoy a break from the heat this week, the rest of the country will continue to fry, it warned.

A spokesman said: “While cooler than normal temperatures envelope much of the Heartland, dangerous heat will be a mainstay in the West early this week.

“Some daily record highs and warm minimum temps are likely to be broken in these areas with the interior Northwest most likely to witness the bulk of the record heat.

“Those in affected areas should stay hydrated, limit outdoor activities, and use fans when air conditioning is not available.”

Around the edge of the heat dome, battling weather fronts will spark ferocious thunderstorms.

Southern states are most at risk where a ‘high concentration of moisture’ threatens torrential downpours, the NOAA said.

Fierce heat across America since June is the result of a high-pressure ‘heat dome’ which has fired the mercury to record levels.

Swaths of southern America have rocketed into the 110Fs while a weekend visitor to Death Valley died in 128F heat, according to the Associated Press.

Stubborn high pressure often remains wedged in place allowing heat to build and keeping rain at bay.

Weather Channel meteorologist Jonathan Erdman said: “In summer, extreme heat usually occurs near areas of high pressure known as heat domes.

“These bubbles of high pressure tend to suppress clouds and rain, allowing the summer sun to heat the ground and air above it most efficiently.

“In summer 2024, so far, they've been most persistent near the East Coast, over California and the Great Basin, overlapping nicely with most of the cities pacing toward a record-hot summer.”

Jim Dale, US weather correspondent and co-author of ‘Surviving Extreme Weather’, said: “Temperatures are going to stay ridiculously high as high pressure remains in place, with 115F or higher a possibility in this region.

“This will increase the risk of wildfires spreading once they have started.”