Potentially Historic Heatwave June 2021 - Bracing For Impact here in SoCal

[TH2002]

Oh boy...

https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/sgx/event/dsstable.php

While heat waves are obviously no stranger to SoCal, ones of this severity are rare. FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS with potential record-shattering temperatures is a first for me (at least that I can remember) though it may have happened before.

Thoughts?

 

[brianc33710]

The fact that Seattle's forecast high temperature on Monday (28 June), 108-110F/42-43C is higher than Birmingham, AL's all time top temperature, 107F/41.5C, truly blows me away. Given my love of heat & humidity, and the wet & below-normal temps rut we've endured here to this point, I admit I am a bit jealous.

 

[warneagle]

I guess the only good thing is that the humidity is staying relatively low, with the dews hovering in the low 50s. Of course all of that dried out vegetation is going to be a major issue come fire season.

 

[brianc33710]

I guess the only good thing is that the humidity is staying relatively low, with the dews hovering in the low 50s. Of course all of that dried out vegetation is going to be a major issue come fire season.

We were supposed to have a mid-90s heat wave for over a week late May. We wound up with a 90 (32) & 92 (33) and 80s galore. We couldnt get above 71 (21.5) on 29 May & had a high of 72 (22) 1 day so far this June.

 

[TH2002]

The fact that Seattle's forecast high temperature on Monday (28 June), 108-110F/42-43C is higher than Birmingham, AL's all time top temperature, 107F/41.5C, truly blows me away. Given my love of heat & humidity, and the wet & below-normal temps rut we've endured here to this point, I admit I'm a bit jealous.

Personally I don't think triple digits are anything to be jealous of!

Given the fact we've already had a fire pop up roughly a mile from our house, the high temps + low humidity are hinting towards another nasty fire season like last year. At one point there was so much smoke from all the fires (Bobcat, El Dorado, etc) the sun was completely blocked out for several days.

There was a bit of change in the weather patterns last week with some thunderstorms! In Riverside we encountered blinding torrential downpours, pea sized hail, lots of thunder and even what looked like a funnel cloud directly above my head!

We could see more storms next week (Tuesday through Wednesday night) and I'm hoping to catch a landspout!

 

[brianc33710]

Personally I don't think triple digits are anything to be jealous of!

Given the fact we've already had a fire pop up roughly a mile from our house, the high temps + low humidity are hinting towards another nasty fire season like last year. At one point there was so much smoke from all the fires (Bobcat, El Dorado, etc) the sun was completely blocked out for several days.

There was a bit of change in the weather patterns last week with some thunderstorms! In Riverside we encountered blinding torrential downpours, pea sized hail, lots of thunder and even what looked like a funnel cloud directly above my head!

We could see more storms next week (Tuesday through Wednesday night) and I'm hoping to catch a landspout!

Glad you got some rain, but, yeah I like temps > 100F (38C) in the summer.

 

[brianc33710]

Its actually worth noting that many of the observation stations in the NW actually have 65F/18C + dewpoints right now. Considering the water rarely reaches 60 there thats super impressive. Water temps generally never reach 70F/21C north of LA, though 75F/24C has become a bit more common around San Diego in the last 10-15 years.

 

[andyhb]

Coming from the Pacific NW, the temperatures and strength of the ridge in place there are just about unfathomable (but also less so given climate change). We're talking about potentially breaking all time record high temperatures by 5-10˚F in places by Tuesday. There is a non-zero chance for the Lower Mainland in British Columbia, where my hometown is, to set an all time record for Canadian temperatures (which is currently 113˚F). Portland, OR already broke its all time record high yesterday at 108˚F and today looks likely to get into the 110s.

Given the lack of overnight recovery for multiple days – Seattle already set an all time record high minimum temp last night and today into Monday will be worse – there is the possibility of this becoming a very deadly event, with many of the urban areas having a large homeless population, a lack of A/C, and an overall lack of infrastructure to deal with such intense heat.

 

[akt1985]

The NWS office in Seattle reminded people yesterday on their website despite temperatures well into the 100s that water temperatures are still in the low 60s and that hypothermia can still easily set in despite the heat.

 

[brianc33710]

The NWS office in Seattle reminded people yesterday on their website despite temperatures well into the 100s that water temperatures are still in the low 60s and that hypothermia can still easily set in despite the heat.

Yeah its interesting that BC/WA/OR are approaching desert SW temps but dewpoints are closer to DFW heat wave norms. SW AZ & SE CA does get 80F/26.5C+ dewpoints when the surge comes in from the Gulf of CA, but are otherwise very low. I guess Im curious as to how & where the comparatively very humid air originates.

Edit: Bellingham, WA dewpoints have reached 70F/21C+ at times today! Even more: Ferndale, WA 75F/24C! Thats high for even here in Birmingham!

 

[brianc33710]

The NWS office in Seattle reminded people yesterday on their website despite temperatures well into the 100s that water temperatures are still in the low 60s and that hypothermia can still easily set in despite the heat.

1 other thing, itll be interesting to see how this extended & severe heat wave affects ocean temps up there. If they climb up to 65F/18C, that could mean more warm & humid weather for the entire summer; which might lead to more rain than typical for the area in the summer.

 

[brianc33710]

Prior to yesterday, the Canadian all-time highest temperature had occurred in July 1937 in Saskatchewan at 45C/113F. Yesterday, Lytton, BC hit 46.1C/115F hourly, later revised to 46.6C/115.9F in-between hours. So far, Lytton, BC has reached 47.6C/117.7F hourly. That may go up when checked between the hours. Lytton is in the valley, so theyll at 1 more chance tomorrow & maybe even again Wed to build upon its record. 50C/122F would be huge for Canada. Since the Dakotas have hit 120-1F/49-.5C, I'm surprised Manitoba hasnt gone higher than 45C/113F in its history.

 

[Evan]

The fact that Seattle's forecast high temperature on Monday (28 June), 108-110F/42-43C is higher than Birmingham, AL's all time top temperature, 107F/41.5C, truly blows me away. Given my love of heat & humidity, and the wet & below-normal temps rut we've endured here to this point, I admit I am a bit jealous.

Have you seen a doctor or psychologist about your condition? I regret to inform you, sir, but you must meet the clinical definition for insanity!

On a serious note, I've noticed as I get older that I cannot tolerate the heat nor the cold. Give me 50 - 85 degree weather. Outside that range and it becomes annoying!

 

[brianc33710]

Have you seen a doctor or psychologist about your condition? I regret to inform you, sir, but you must meet the clinical definition for insanity!

On a serious note, I've noticed as I get older that I cannot tolerate the heat nor the cold. Give me 50 - 85 degree weather. Outside that range and it becomes annoying!

No, but I lived in Tampa Bay for 11 1/2 years. We had some 100s east of Tampa proper but still saw plenty of 95-8 temp days closer to the Bay. Heat Indexes >110 werent out of the norm at many of Tampa's reporting stations. Nights were nice & warm compared to Birmingham too, though admittedly the afternoon storms closer & east of I-75 annoyed me at times.

You might like Eureka CA. They very rarely get above 75-80 and rarely below 30. The heat wave appears to have warmed waters off OR/Wa some but still 60-5.

Edit: Lytton, BC yesterday 47.9C/118.2F! The forecast there is for 49C/120F today! So far the hi temp in Lytton, BC today is 49.6C/121.3F! I think things start to cool down in that part of BC tomorrow but east of there remains hot. But the all-time Canada records are probably set for now.

 

[warneagle]

Not quite as extreme but it's pretty toasty on the east coast as well this week. Boston hit 100F today (for the first time in 10 years) and Baltimore might too.

 

[warneagle]

And the astounding temperature records continue:

 

[warneagle]

Lytton, BC, where some of the most extreme temperatures were recorded, was almost completely destroyed by fire yesterday.

 

[brianc33710]

Lytton, BC, where some of the most extreme temperatures were recorded, was almost completely destroyed by fire yesterday.

Yeah, that broke my heart. This isnt Lytton, BC 1st fire, but the photos show about 90% of the town burned down.