Rare early spring heatwave hits the American West

The western United States is experiencing a rare early-spring heat wave this week, with temperatures in many places significantly higher than the same period in previous years. On the 17th, the National Weather Service of the United States issued a forecast saying that this spell of hot weather will continue for several days; in some areas, daily high temperatures may set new records and even break local March records for the hottest temperatures on record. According to the latest forecast from the U.S. National Weather Service, driven by an unusually strong high-pressure system, the western United States this week is seeing summer-like hot weather. The heat is affecting a wide area, stretching from the U.S. West Coast to the inland plains. In some regions, temperatures are expected to be about 11 to 17 degrees Celsius higher than the same period in previous years, and the maximum temperature in the deserts of the southwestern United States could rise above 38 degrees Celsius. Many places may break March temperature records, and some areas’ temperature levels are approaching the typical temperatures seen in June. Meteorological authorities have issued extreme heat alerts for locations including California, Nevada, and Arizona. The U.S. National Weather Service expects that over the next few days, the area affected by the heat may further expand to the east and south. This heat wave could last until the end of this week. The U.S. National Weather Service said that in the United States, hundreds of people die each year due to heat. Weather authorities urge the public to take measures to cool down and prevent heat stress—limit outdoor activities during peak heat periods as much as possible and replenish fluids in a timely manner—to reduce health risks caused by the heat. (Xinhua)