Temperatures have soared into triple digits across Southern California, including the valleys, inland areas, and even downtown Los Angeles, as the region experiences one of the worst heatwaves on record. Amid the extreme heat and dry conditions, large wildfires are spreading, and power outages are occurring due to increased electricity consumption, causing residents to suffer from the sweltering heat. In addition, a series of earthquakes in the San Bernardino area have further unsettled residents.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the highest temperature recorded at Burbank Airport in LA County on the 6th was 114 degrees. This matches the all-time record set on July 6, 2018, and September 5-6, 2020, since temperature recordings began there in 1939. On the same day, downtown LA hit 112 degrees, Long Beach Airport reached 109 degrees, and even LA International Airport, located near the coast, recorded 102 degrees, setting new daily records.

The heatwave, which began with a sudden rise in temperatures on Labor Day, September 2, has continued for nearly a week, bringing scorching temperatures of over 100 degrees not only to inland areas but also to coastal regions. The weather service predicts that the heat will persist until the 9th, with relief expected to begin on Tuesday, the 10th. John Dumas, a meteorologist at the NWS LA office, said, "This heatwave is one of the most severe that the LA metropolitan area has experienced in recent years."

As the air becomes drier and hotter, the risk of wildfires is at an all-time high. According to Cal Fire on the 8th, a wildfire broke out in the mountains of San Bernardino County on the evening of the 5th and is currently spreading. Named the "Radford Fire," the blaze rapidly expanded due to the hot, dry weather, burning 17,459 acres as of the afternoon of the 8th. Despite efforts by over 600 firefighters and helicopters, containment remains at 0%. Mandatory evacuation orders have been issued for about 6,000 residents in the Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake areas near Big Bear, and evacuation warnings have been given to thousands of residents in nearby Lake Arrowhead and Crestline.

The extreme heat has caused a surge in electricity demand for air conditioning, leading to widespread power outages. Southern California Edison (SCE) reported that about 5,700 homes in LA County and 600 homes in San Bernardino County experienced power outages.

To make matters worse, two earthquakes struck Ontario in San Bernardino County on the 7th, with magnitudes of 3.5 and 3.9.

While the tremors were felt in LA, Orange County, and northern San Diego County, no damage was reported.



<Hyungseok Han>