California Prepares for Severe Heatwave before July Fourth
California is preparing for a severe heatwave as July Fourth nears. The National Weather Service (NWS) predicts temperatures will cross 110 degrees Fahrenheit in many parts of the state, leading Governor Gavin Newsom to caution residents.
The State’s Response and Actions
In light of the severe weather, Governor Newsom has instructed the Office of Emergency Services to turn on its State Operations Center and proceed to Phase II of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan. The NWS’s predictions of extreme heat have triggered this action, ensuring a united response from the state government.
The state is already in touch with various community organisations to assist vulnerable residents to find resources such as cooling centres. Besides, there are enforced protections for outdoor workers due to the heat.
From Tuesday through the end of the week and into the weekend there are warnings and watches for excessive heat. The NWS predicts an Extreme Heat Risk across several parts of California, with temperatures likely to hover between 105 and 115 degrees for several days without much drop at night. As a significant concern, extreme heat results in more fatalities annually in the U.S than any other severe weather event including wildfires and floods.
Governor’s Statement
Governor Newsom underscored how serious this situation was , “This is a serious heatwave. It’s not going to be any cooler at night as well despite Californians being used to such high temperatures.”
He further said, “As we enjoy our Fourth of July celebrations this week please keep an eye out on each other and take good care. Don’t get surprised by this scorching weather.”
Tips for Staying Safe
To deal with the heat, the state has some advice,
- Find ways to stay cool: If you don’t have access to air conditioning, visit a cooling centre. There are public spaces available such as libraries and shopping malls for this purpose.
- Drink a lot of fluids: It is crucial to drink ample water even when not feeling thirsty. Sports drinks can be taken with water in moderate amounts for replenishing lost electrolytes during physical activity. But remember to avoid sugary, alcoholic, and extremely cold drinks.
- Maintain communication: Keep a watch on those who are at higher risk of falling ill due to the heat like infants, young children, elderly people, individuals with chronic illnesses, and pregnant women. You should also check up on neighbours and help any person in need if you’re able to.
- Stay updated: Pay attention to local news for updates on weather forecasts, severe heat alerts and locations of cooling centres nearby.
The Preparation by Utility Companies
The extreme temperatures pose an issue for California’s electrical grid. Already Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) has triggered its Emergency Operations Center as potentially 12k customers have been informed about possible power cuts due to reducing risk of wildfires from live power lines. These public safety power shut offs are likely to start early July 2 going until July 3rd.
Suzanne Hosn is a spokesperson from PG&E who said “We’ve been keeping an eye on the expected persistent heatwave projected over this holiday week that could reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit in some places around July 2nd & 3rd.” There’s been a red flag warning announced for subsets of Sacramento Valley and foothills where dry conditions , high temperatures and wind conditions have raised wildfire risk
Once the harsh weather is over , PG&E will check electrical lines before restoring power when it’s safe to do so
Other utility companies around the region are also keeping tabs on the weather that could impact power generation. Reggie Kumar, who speaks for Southern California Edison (SCE) said “Our system is holding up and benefiting from years of work done on equipment upgrades and replacements as well as making our electricity grid stronger.”
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) stressed on how important maintaining constant power supply in their message , “Keeping power supplies regular is central to what we do and we have enough resources for expected demand barring emergencies like wildfires or a sudden , substantial shortfall in power.”
Market Predictions
The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has predicted average peak load of around 41 GW over the next week with a possible increase up to 43.909 GW on July 3rd. This is compared against last July’s average peak load of 37.275 GW.
Rising demand has led to a reaction in wholesale power prices too. The day ahead of peak prices at hubs like SP15 and NP15 are much higher than what they were during last June and July.
In areas like Desert Southwest, Palo Verde saw a surge in day ahead off peak rates reflecting increased demand and decreased supply during these hot days
Weather Forecast
NWS’s daily outlook shows how dangerous this heat wave could be with above 50 mln people facing heat related advisories, warnings or watches. Large parts inward from the coastline should see temperatures between 100F 110F which may break daily records in areas such as San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento Valleys especially around July 2nd &3rd
To quote NWS, “The long duration of this heatwave is a concern as the weather forecast predicts severe hot conditions to continue for the rest of the week. Such high temperatures could endanger everyone if precautions for heat safety are not taken “
Conclusion
In view of this extreme heatwave California residents should make sure to take all precautions necessary. Even utilities have prepared proactively and with all hands on deck response from state, they can hopefully lessen effects of severe weather. During this difficult time always remember to stay cool , drink fluids and keep in contact while following all local updates on weather for staying safe
