This March, a massive heat wave has set records across the United States. With 14 states experiencing unprecedented temperatures, meteorologists are calling this heat dome one of the largest in American history. Meteorologist Gregg Gallina from the National Weather Service warns that this heat will linger, potentially affecting the country until early April.
“It’s going to be hot everywhere,” Gallina said. The area impacted by record-breaking temperatures is vast. This is unusual and concerning.
In Flagstaff, Arizona, residents are bracing for over a week of temperatures exceeding previous March records. The heat dome creates a high-pressure area that traps warm air, leading to extreme conditions.
By mid-week, parts of the southern and central Plains could see temperatures in the 90s Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius). Gallina estimates that about 25-33% of the continental U.S. will threaten March heat records.
Weather historian Chris Burt notes that this heat wave may overshadow two significant heat events from recent years: one in 2012 and another in 2021. Though not as intense as the Dust Bowl heat waves of 1936, which spanned two months, this current heat event is still alarming.
One factor giving some relief is lower humidity compared to summer heat waves. As of Friday, several locations in Arizona and California recorded temperatures soaring to 112°F (44.4°C), breaking records by 4°F (2°C). Notably, climatologist Maximiliano Herrera reported that 14 states have set their hottest March temperatures recently, including California and Arizona.
In Mexico, records fell hard as well, with temperatures rising as much as 14°F (about 8°C) beyond established March norms. Some scientists argue such remarkable heat spikes are becoming increasingly linked to climate change. A report by the World Weather Attribution group declared the likelihood of experiencing these records 800 times higher due to the impacts of fossil fuel emissions, which are believed to have added at least 4.7°F (2.6°C) to the unprecedented warmth.
As weather patterns shift, the jet stream remains stuck, causing drastic conditions on both sides. While parts of the U.S. are sweltering, regions like Hawaii are grappling with intense storms and heavy rainfall.
Looking ahead, meteorologists anticipate the heat dome will pass by late next week. Until then, millions will endure a March that feels more like summer.
For more details on how climate change is influencing these weather patterns, you can check a detailed report from World Weather Attribution [here](https://www.worldweatherattribution.org/record-shattering-march-temperatures-in-western-north-america-virtually-impossible-without-climate-change/).
Source link
Weather, General news, Heat waves, National, Health, Science, Arizona, U.S. news, California, Chris Burt, Climate and environment, Jeff Masters, Maximiliano Herrera, U.S. News
