Farmers abandon crops, Utah residents asked to pray for rain amid record hot weather in parts of US
Some southwestern cities face searing temperatures of 110F or more
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Parts of the US face record high temperatures as a wave of heat sweeps the country’s southwest.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warned residents of Salt Lake City, Utah, they should prepare to see the all-time highest June temperature matched on Tuesday, with the mercury set to hit a sweltering 105F (40.6C).
The city last saw daily temperatures that high in 1974, the NWS said.
The governmental Weather Prediction Centre’s heat map showed conditions were expected to become even more extreme for people in Arizona and California, however.
Yuma, Arizona, is likely to see temperatures of 110F (43C) or higher in the coming days, as is Blythe in California. Even coastal cities will not be spared, forecasts suggest. Los Angeles may hit 90F (32C) on Tuesday.
California ISO, which runs that state’s power grid, has warned residents they should prepare to have to conserve electricity with air conditioners set to work overtime.
Much of the American west is in the grip of drought. Last week, Lake Mead, the reservoir formed when the Hoover dam was constructed on the Nevada-Arizona border, reached its lowest ever level.
That drought has affected California, the Pacific northwest, the Great Basin spanning Nevada, Oregon and Utah, plus the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico and even part of the northern plains.
Farmers are abandoning crops, Nevada is banning the watering of about one-third of lawns in the Las Vegas area, and the governor of Utah has literally asked residents there to pray for rain.
Firefighters fear another devastating wildfire season this year.
Droughts are a recurring natural phenomenon, but have worsened recently following a string of very dry years for most of this century. Scientists say human-influenced climate change has made the situation worse.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments