- More than a third of U.S. residents were given warnings, watches, and advisories for extreme heat.
- Temperatures from the blistering heat wave continue to climb to triple-digit figures across the Southwest and California.
- Officials have opened cooling centers to protect the homeless and elderly who are more vulnerable to the heat.
More than a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings Thursday as a blistering heat wave that’s been baking the nation spread further into California, forcing residents to seek out air conditioning or find other ways to stay cool in triple-digit temperatures.
The sweltering conditions were expected to build Friday and through the weekend in Central and Southern California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned. Highs in inland desert areas could top 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and remain in the 80s overnight, offering little relief.
In the desert city of Palm Springs, many homeless people were left to contend with the heat on their own, with just 20 indoor beds at the lone overnight shelter.
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John Summers, a homeless resident, climbed through a dry riverbed Thursday to seek shade at an encampment.
“I basically just use water as much as I can. And hit shade. And, you know, the mall, wherever they’ll let you in,” he said.
Roman Ruiz, the city’s homeless services coordinator, said homeless residents struggle daily just to find a place with enough shade.
“I don’t know how anyone can do it really,” he said. “I feel so bad, and yet there’s not much I can do.”
The mercury was expected to near 110 degrees in the city Thursday.
Elsewhere, officials prepared to repurpose public libraries, senior centers and police department lobbies as cooling centers, especially in desert areas.
The heat wave came as the California State Fair prepared to kick off Friday in Sacramento, forcing organizers…
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