TOPLINE
Parts of Southern California are experiencing “dangerously hot” weather conditions over the weekend, some residents interrupted Friday’s heat-related power outage Friday, and all residents were asked not to circle the AC to prevent more blackouts.
Flames of Ranch Fire burn the hills in Azusa, California, on August 14, 2020, 25 miles east of … [+]
KEY FACTS
Hot and especially dry conditions are expected for the western US and the southern plains under a reinforcing ridge of high pressure, according to the National Water Service, which has issued excessive hot watches, warnings and heat advice for many of the western US
The Weather Service warned that in the Antelope Valley north of Los Angeles temperatures could reach 112 degrees through Tuesday, slightly higher than the potential roasting of 110 degrees in the Inland Dellingen and the 100 degrees along the coast.
With temperatures rising, the body declared that the electric grid runs for most of California a statewide Stage 3 emergency Friday for the first time since 2001 due to too high heat calling for electricity use and ordered utilities to run power outage programs , according to the Los Angeles Times.
The California Independent System Operator also issued a statewide flex alert on Friday, urging residents to save electricity between 3 p.m. and 10 p.m.; to set the climate thermostat to 78 degrees or higher, turn off unnecessary lights and do not use important appliances, the The time sei; up to 2 million residents were left in the dark late Friday in the state’s first rolling blackouts since the 2001 energy crisis, according to Bloomberg.
Temperatures had the potential to rival the deadly 2006 heatwave, when Los Angeles County recorded its highest temperature: 119 degrees in Woodland Hills on July 22, the The time report.
The heat also added to the misery of firefighters battling at least 19 wildfires in California, including the Apple Fire, which burned 33,424 acres since July 31 and contained 90% on Saturday.
Note:
This story is broken and will be updated frequently
key background
At least 12 other fires were burning outside California, according to the The time, including four major fires in Colorado that have consumed more than 100,000 acres and only contained 0% to 7% since early Saturday, according to Colorado Public Radio. Evacuation orders have been issued in areas threatened by the Lake Fire and Ranch2 Fire in Los Angeles County; the Mosier Creek Fire in central Oregon; and the fires of Pine Gulch, Grizzly Creek and Cameron Peak in Colorado, according to CNN.
tangens
Boaters were warned Saturday to stay away from the Oakland Estuary, after an estimated 50,000 gallons of raw sewage was grounded during a power outage Friday night at the East Bay Municipal Utility District waste disposal facility in West Oakland, according to the Bay City News Service. The spill occurred after power outages between 5 and 7 a.m., ordered by the California Independent System Administrator, caused a pump to fail, the utility said.
further reading
Severe heatwave causes rolling blackouts, dangerous conditions in California (Los Angeles Times)
.
