Southern California braces for another September heat wave, in which a new normal will be established.
That’s according to new studies that say record-breaking temperatures are likely for California.
“September’s going to be an intense heatwave, possibly possibly the worst one ever in the state of California,” Jonathan Gush, a climatologist at the US Geological Survey in Pasadena, told The Daily Signal.
The average temperature for the month of September is expected to exceed 93 degrees for the first time since measurements were first taken in 1916, according to the weather service.
“September’s going to be an intense heatwave, possibly possibly the worst one ever in the state of California.”
What makes this forecast particularly alarming is the fact that the heat is expected to occur in the middle of an ongoing drought.
“When it comes to drought it’s not going to be exceptional in terms of severity,” Gush said.
“Once that drought comes to an end … we’ll see some cooler conditions, but it will be extremely hot the whole state.”
September, which begins on Sept. 23, is already on pace to set a new daily record high for Los Angeles County. The previous record was set four days ago, on Sept. 14.
“It’s going to be very hot [in the Los Angeles area],” Gush said. “We could hit a new daily record.”
California’s current drought is among the worst in the nation.
The drought has plagued California for the past three months, since the first of August, as temperatures spiked to record levels in the state.
But the heat hasn’t been the only culprit in California’s devastating drought, which is impacting crops, waterways, wildfires, and infrastructure.
Experts say drought is to blame for California’s deadly wildfires, which have burned through more