Extreme Temperature Diary- August 5, 2018/ Hot Topic: California In Flames

Sunday August 5th… Dear Diary. The main purpose of this ongoing post will be to track United States extreme or record temperatures related to climate change. Any reports I see of ETs will be listed below the main topic of the day. I’ll refer to extreme or record temperatures as ETs (not extraterrestrials)😊. Here is today’s main climate change post related hot topic:

California In Flames

(As usual, this will be a fluid post in which more information gets added during the day as it crosses my radar, crediting all who have put it on-line.)

I’ll have to admit it. The old Climate Guy is getting plenty frustrated trying to come up with some good news for California since starting this site in early 2017. My forecast giving Northern California some relief by Monday wasn’t terrible, but cooler temperatures and the lessening of wind fanning flames will be short lived:

https://guyonclimate.com/2018/07/29/extreme-temperature-diary-july-29-2018-hot-topic-nature-to-give-california-a-break/

I was licking my chops when I saw the European model digging this trough into California a week ago:

Here is the verification from this morning: 

There is a big difference between these two panels. Instead of a system digging into California from British Columbia we saw that the bulk of the trough forming a closed low well off the coast. A weaker system that moved through California Saturday was only strong enough to whip up winds and not cool temperatures much. This week our unfriendly ridge will be building back over the area:

Here is the broad picture today of heat and fire advisories across the United States:

Notice that there are a few advisories in the Northeast, but the bulk remain in the West. Of most concern is the fire situation in Southern California:

Dr. Daniel Swain‏Verified account @Weather_West

Can’t believe I’m saying this again for second time in less than a year, but #MendocinoComplex/#RanchFire (201,000 acres) stands real chance of becoming largest #wildfire in California history. Previous record set just last winter (yes, winter) during #ThomasFire. #CAwx #CAfire

10:40 PM – 4 Aug 2018

Scott Bachmeier‏ @CIMSS_Satellite

30-meter resolution #Landsat8 False Color image showing a pyrocumulus-producing fire along the eastern edge of the #MendocinoComplexFire yesterday (04 August). View in RealEarth: https://re.ssec.wisc.edu/s/lRMqf  @NWSSacramento #CAwx

12:45 PM – 5 Aug 2018

A climate change signal here could not be more clear. California is getting hotter, thus there are more and bigger wildfires:

Ron Lin‏Verified account @ronlin

California’s record-setting summer heat brings death, destruction & blunt talk on climate change. A new statewide record was set: the highest minimum temperature statewide of any month since 1895, rising to 64.9, the Western Regional Climate Center said

7:22 AM – 5 Aug 2018

Here is Ron Lin’s  “deeper dive” into the role that climate change is playing with California’s now nearly constant fiery weather regime:

Dr. Daniel Swain‏Verified account@Weather_West

Dr. Daniel Swain Retweeted Los Angeles Times

Deep-dive by @ronlin into broader climate context of recent California wildfires, including importance of rising temperatures. Plus, discussion of extraordinary & devastating #CarrFire “fire vortex.” Thoughts by @DrBalch, @climate_guy, @nplareau, and @Weather_West. #CAwx #CAfire

Dr. Daniel Swain added,

Los Angeles TimesVerified account@latimes

The common thread in California’s wildfires: heat like the state has never seen https://lat.ms/2As5K11

9:38 AM – 31 Jul 2018

I’ve failed to mention the smoke leading to poor air quality across the state leading to health problems:

Cal OES‏Verified account @Cal_OES

AIR QUALITY for Yosemite National Park area as of 1pm (PST) 8/5 People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid all physical activity outdoors. Everyone else should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. FIND MORE here https://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.local_city&cityid=533 …

1:37 PM – 5 Aug 2018

Conditions will only get worse with increasing heat. I’ll keep adding important news and information on this site about the situation in California as the week goes by.

On related news:

Dominic Royé‏ @dr_xeo

In the current context of #wildfires in Greece, #athens, an important paper “Defining Extreme Wildfire Events: Difficulties, Challenges, and Impacts” lead by Fantina Tedim @UPorto. Open Access http://www.mdpi.com/2571-6255/1/1/9  #IIFF

Michael E. Mann‏Verified account @MichaelEMann

Replying to @realDonaldTrump

Hey Mr. Trump:
These wildfires are being magnified by human-caused climate change
(http://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2018/08/02/summer-weather-climate-change …).
You are attempting to sabotage international efforts to ACT on climate change.

That’s a crime against the planet. Add it to the list…

3:20 PM – 5 Aug 2018

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On Monday heat will increase a few degrees just about everywhere on the CONUS:

It’s no wonder why some heat advisories have been posted in the Northeast.

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The Climate Guy