Record Breaking Heatwaves

[Nancy OShea]

Land surface temperatures in some areas of Spain have hit more than 140F (60C) during the deadly heatwave sweeping Europe.  It was so hot that thermal maps that highlight scorching temperatures in red turned even darker – to black.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/heatwave-in-spain-2023-weather-temperatures-b2374423...

Meanwhile, surface water temperatures off Florida's coast are exceeding 90F (highest on record). Coral reefs are being threatened.

Texas is in it's 3rd straight week of tripple digit temperatures. Solar & wind energy have kept Texas' flailing power grids running. More extreme heat expected for west coast and southwest.

So how hot is it where you are?

[Nancy OShea]

That's a vacation bummer.

[Chuck Uebele]

That's a vacation bummer.

By @Nancy OShea

Yes, big time!

[Nancy OShea]

Hilary is up to a category 5 hurricane. 

We're already receiving county-wide alerts on our cell phones to prepare for 6-7 inches of rain & hurricane force winds.  This is just crazy.

[Chuck Uebele]

That's not good. Last I heard, they were predicting a 2.

[Nancy OShea]

Hilary is tracking up the Baja coast on target to hit Los Angeles Mon at 3:am. 

The last time Los Angeles area was hit by a hurricane was 1939.

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/18/weather/hurricane-hilary-rain-flooding-forecast-friday/index.html

[Nancy OShea]

California rarely sees hurricanes because cooler Pacific water temps prevent them from occurring.  Recent loss of arctic ice sheet + a super El Nino + elevated CO₂ & CH₄ levels (global warming) have all given rise to historic conditions in the Pacific.

Hilary has picked up speed.  She's now expected to hit us on Sunday instead of Monday.  County Emergency Systems have issued  Flash Flood Watch & alerted us to stay off roads Sunday-Monday and expect interruptions in power, phone & Internet. 

Hillary will likely diminish to a tropical storm but the National Weather Service says we should expect widespread flooding. Hardest hit areas will be east of L.A. in San Bernardino, Riverside, Mojave, Inyo, Death Valley and Las Vegas, NV.  Other western states are also issuing heavy rain advisories.

Coastal residents are bagging sand and large berms have been set up along California beaches.  People here are stocking up on bottled water & essentials. We may be in the dark for a while. 

[Nancy OShea]

That was a heck of boat ride. Hilary was massively wet & muggy made all the more memorable by a 5.1 earthquake in Ojai followed by multiple aftershocks.  Apart from one downed tree limb, we incurred no storm or earthquake damage. So no complaints.  But our friends in Palm Springs got hammered by Hilary.   All roads in & out of Palm Desert are still closed. They had so much flooding their 911 emergency system failed.  😱