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Fire Department in California: Extreme drought and great heat
Photo: Noah Berger / dpa
Extreme heat is expected again this weekend in the western US states.
The National Weather Service issued appropriate warnings for more than 31 million people.
In large parts of California and Nevada, the highest warning level applies: Because of the persistent heat and the lack of cooling at night, not only the elderly or the sick, but the entire population are at risk.
Extreme heat is also expected in Utah and Arizona.
In Death Valley, California, notorious for its heat, temperatures could rise to more than 50 degrees Celsius.
The highest temperature ever measured there was 56.7 degrees.
This value will probably not be reached this time.
It could also get particularly hot in Las Vegas and Sacramento:
Just last week, a heat wave in the northwest of the USA and in western Canada with temperatures of up to almost 50 degrees claimed hundreds of lives.
In the Canadian community of Lytton, around 260 kilometers northeast of Vancouver, 49.6 degrees had been measured - previously the record in Canada was 45 degrees.
A few days later, the village was almost completely destroyed in an inferno.
In California, the fire department is fighting several fires.
The fire department Calfire reported that a fire destroyed a building near the Redwood Valley in the Mendocino district.
Several residents had to temporarily leave their homes.
By Thursday evening, the fire had been brought under control to 75 percent.
Drought emergency spread to almost all of California
Due to increasing drought and rising temperatures, California Governor Gavin Newsom called on residents of the most populous US state to save water on Thursday.
People should voluntarily consume 15 percent less water compared to last year, he said at a press conference.
The appeal is directed not only to the population in general, but also to industry and agriculture.
Citizens should take shorter showers, water the lawn less frequently and repair any leaks in pipes.
It was about "common sense," stressed Newsom.
At the same time, the Democratic politician announced that the drought emergency declared in April would be expanded by nine more to 50 of California's 58 districts.
This corresponds to about 42 percent of the state's population.
Rainfall and snow cover in the mountains, which usually fill the water reservoirs, are already at a critically low level.
According to scientists, climate change is also exacerbating drought, heat and extreme weather conditions, which can contribute to more violent forest fires.
abl / dpa
