Unprecedented March Heatwave Sweeps U.S. Southwest, Wildfire Risks Rise

Bloomberg News reported on the 22nd (local time) that the historic heatwave sweeping across the southwestern United States is raising wildfire risks as far as the Great Plains, which stretch across the Rocky Mountains of the United States and Canada.

On the 19th (local time), amid a record-breaking winter heatwave sweeping across the southwestern United States, a woman is seen resting in the shade near Salton Sea, close to North Shore, California, before packing her belongings. California, USA = AP Yonhap News Photo

According to the report, on the 21st, Las Vegas, Nevada recorded its highest-ever temperature at 36°C. Phoenix, Arizona reached a record high for March with 40.5°C for three consecutive days.

The heatwave is expected to continue for the time being. Ashton Robinson Cook, a forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center (WPC), stated, "Las Vegas and Phoenix are likely to keep breaking temperature records throughout this week," adding, "This record-breaking heatwave will last until the end of March." He further noted, "If the forecast holds, Las Vegas will set new records over the next seven days, and Phoenix will continue to do so through the 28th."

According to the WPC, a total of 383 daily high-temperature records are expected to be broken across the United States over the next week. The massive heat dome phenomenon that has raised temperatures throughout the Southwest is also driving hot and dry air into the Great Plains, increasing the risk of wildfires. A heat dome occurs when hot air becomes trapped like a dome, encircling the ground and remaining stationary.

On this day, wildfire advisories were issued for most areas of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Forecaster Cook warned, "The threat of wildfires should never be underestimated under these weather conditions."

Jennifer Francis, Senior Scientist at the Woodwell Climate Research Center, expressed concern that the abnormal heat in the western region is reducing snowpack in mountainous areas, which could disrupt future supplies of drinking and agricultural water. She explained, "The stagnation of the jet stream, which has anchored high pressure over the Southwest, is closely linked to rising sea surface temperatures in the North Pacific," analyzing that this is a result of climate change.

She further pointed out, "Lethal heatwaves are no longer just a summer problem," and warned, "As greenhouse gases continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, this could become the 'new abnormal.'"

The WPC stated that, except for the Northeast, most regions in the United States are likely to experience above-average temperatures through April 4. In addition, the long-term outlook for the next three to four weeks predicts that most of the contiguous 48 states will continue to see warm weather through April 17.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.