Tourists Hit With Closures as 'Extreme' Warning Issued
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Numerous popular mountain trails have been closed in Arizona amid warnings of "dangerously" hot conditions.
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued extreme heat warnings for southern Arizona and southeast California this week, with temperatures forecast to soar to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
The warnings mean that periods of very hot temperatures, even by local standards, will occur and that actions should be taken to avoid health risks.
A man walks under a mist cooling system in Phoenix in 2023.
A man walks under a mist cooling system in Phoenix in 2023.
Matt York/AP
Why It Matters
The NWS warned that the risk of heat-related illnesses increases significantly in areas impacted by extreme-heat events.
"Overexposure can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion to develop and, without intervention, can lead to heat stroke," it said.
"Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing when possible and drink plenty of water. Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible, reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening."
What To Know
In Arizona, the extreme heat warning is in force across a large swathe of southern counties, incorporating major cities such as Phoenix, Tucson and Scottsdale.
Afternoon temperatures are set to rise to between 108 and 118 in parts, and the warnings are set to remain in force until 8 p.m. MT on Friday.
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department announced that restrictions had been implemented for a number of hiking trails due to the extreme conditions. The following trails will be closed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. through Friday:
Camelback Mountain - Echo Canyon & Cholla Trail
Phoenix Mountains Preserve - Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and associated trails
South Mountain Park/Preserve - Holbert Trail, Mormon Trial, Hau'pal Loop Trail, and access to the National Trail from Pima Canyon Trailhead
The Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board established its Trail Heat Safety Program in 2021 to protect hikers and bikers during periods of extreme heat.
The department says on its website: "In 2024, Phoenix experienced 45 days of trail closures due to extreme heat warnings between May 1 and October 13, with a total of 121 days reaching temperatures of 105°F or higher. Notably, 69 of those days exceeded 110°F. This extreme heat not only raises the risk of heat-related incidents but also poses significant challenges for first responders during mountain rescues.
"The Phoenix Trails and Heat Safety Program has been effective in decreasing mountain rescues during the hottest months, as affirmed by the substantial decline in the number of rescues on closed trails from 2021 to 2024: 2021 - 57 rescues; 2022 - 47 rescues; 2023 - 30 rescues; 2024 - 35 rescues."
In California, an extreme heat warning is in effect from Wednesday morning until Friday evening for the Coachella Valley and San Diego County Deserts. Temperatures are forecast to reach 118.
What People Are Saying
The NWS, in its alert: "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes."
What Happens Next
The extreme heat warning warnings in California and Arizona are set to remain in force until 8 p.m. on Friday. Regular weather updates and warnings are issued by the NWS on its website.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
30 minutes ago
- CBS News
Colorado braces for intense heat and high fire risk this week
The National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for numerous mountain areas and portions of the Western Slope, including parts of Larimer, Park, Jackson, and Chaffee Counties. These warnings are in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, and could be extended into the coming days as similar weather patterns persist. The combination of gusty winds (up to 35 mph), single-digit humidity, and extremely dry fuels means that if a fire were to start, it could spread quickly. Adding to the concern is the intense heat gripping the state. Daytime highs will be in the mid to upper 90s and possibly reach 100 degrees by Thursday and Friday across portions of the Denver metro area. In Denver, the all-time high for Thursday, Aug. 7 is 99 degrees, set in 1980. Thursday is expected to be the peak of the heat wave, and a Heat Advisory may be issued if conditions continue to worsen. The First Alert Weather Team has issued a First Alert Weather Day possible on Thursday due to the extreme heat that is expected both during the day and overnight. In addition to fire concerns and heat, many communities — especially along the Front Range — are dealing with increasing wildfire smoke in the atmosphere. The smoke, coming from fires burning both in-state and across the west, could limit visibility during the morning and evening hours. A backdoor cold front is expected to arrive late Friday or early Saturday, dropping daytime highs by about 10 degrees and bringing temperatures closer to normal for August. Along with the cooldown, there's a chance of isolated storms this weekend, offering a small but welcome break from the otherwise bone-dry pattern.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Potential Tropical Storm Erin Update as Chances at Forming Rise
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has increased the chances that a disturbance off the Southeast U.S. coast will form within the next seven days. Should it strengthen into a tropical storm, it will become the fifth named storm of the season and will be called Erin. Why It Matters The NHC is currently tracking three systems in the Atlantic Ocean. They are Tropical Storm Dexter, which is currently moving further out to sea, and two disturbances, one off the western coast of Africa and one brewing much closer to the U.S. Each of these disturbances has a moderate chance at strengthening into a tropical storm in the coming days. Hurricanes and tropical storms can lead to evacuation warnings and cause major damage when they hit the U.S. Tracking and predicting the movement of these storms can help with preparedness and public safety. The Atlantic hurricane season began on June 1 and runs through November 30. What To Know Since Monday, chances that the disturbance nearest the U.S. will strengthen into a tropical storm have increased. The storm had zero percent chance of strengthening within 48 hours and a 30 percent chance of doing so within the next seven days on Monday. On Tuesday, those chances for it to form within the next 48 hours have risen to 10 percent, and the chances it will do so within the next seven days have risen to 40 percent. A map from the National Hurricane Center shows meteorologists monitoring three disturbances, including one tropical storm, in the Atlantic Ocean. A map from the National Hurricane Center shows meteorologists monitoring three disturbances, including one tropical storm, in the Atlantic Ocean. National Hurricane Center Meanwhile, the disturbance off the coast of Africa has a slightly higher chance at forming in the next seven days at 50 percent, but chances remain at near zero for the next 48 hours. Either one of these disturbances could become Erin. Should they both strengthen into a tropical storm, one will be named Fernand. Neither of the new systems is causing weather hazards on land, although the North Carolina coastline did see dangerous wave and current activity yesterday from Tropical Storm Dexter, National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologist Olivia Cahill told Newsweek. It remains to be seen what, if any, impacts will be caused by the new disturbances. Weather experts have issued repeated warnings this summer that peak Atlantic hurricane season doesn't typically hit until September, urging people to take precautionary action, such as stocking up on emergency supplies and ensuring they have proper insurance in place, before a storm forms. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting from 13 to 19 named storms for this year's Atlantic hurricane season, with six to 10 strengthening into hurricanes and three to five into major hurricanes. What People Are Saying NHC in an updated outlook about the system closest to the U.S.: "A weak surface trough currently located several hundred miles off the coast of the southeastern United States is expected to form an area of low pressure in a day or so. Thereafter, environmental conditions appear favorable for gradual development of this system, and a tropical depression could form by the latter portion of this week or weekend as the low initially moves slowly westward, but turns more northward by this weekend." NHC in an updated outlook about the system near Africa: "A tropical wave over the far eastern tropical Atlantic is currently producing disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity, primarily to the southwest of the wave axis. Environmental conditions are forecast to be conducive for gradual development during the next few days, and a tropical depression could form late this week or over the weekend as the system moves generally west-northwestward across the central tropical or subtropical Atlantic." What Happens Next NHC meteorologists will continue to monitor the system as it progresses. As of the most recent forecast, there were no warnings or watches in place for the Southeast coast.
CNN
an hour ago
- CNN
Weather Service is now hiring back hundreds of positions that got cut in the DOGE chaos
Job market DOGE Federal agenciesFacebookTweetLink Follow The National Weather Service has received permission to hire 450 meteorologists, hydrologists and radar technicians just months after being hit hard by Department of Government Efficiency-related cuts and early retirement incentives. The new hiring number includes 126 new positions that were previously approved and will apply to 'front-line mission critical' personnel, a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official told CNN. The NWS cuts have spurred concerns over how well-prepared the country is to withstand hurricane season, which is just starting to heat up in the Atlantic. The staff reductions also have been scrutinized in the wake of the deadly Texas floods in July, with vacancies at weather service forecast offices there. The cuts to probationary employees, as well as early retirement incentives, meant the nation's front-line weather forecasting agency's staffing levels fell by more than 550 people since the second Trump administration began, to below 4,000 total employees. CNN has reached out to NOAA for comment. Agency employees are greeting the news, unveiled at an all hands meeting on Monday, with guarded optimism and relief. Current employees have been working additional hours with additional responsibilities since the layoffs and retirements earlier this year, trying to maintain the 24/7 posture US extreme weather requires. The agency has also been functioning with less data from fewer, less frequent weather balloon launches. The announcement was also met with frustration over the people the agency lost in the failed attempt at government savings. 'How much time/money is it going to cost to train a bunch of new people when we had already-trained people in place?' asked another NOAA official, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. It is possible that some of the new hires will have been previously trained employees who were let go in the DOGE cuts. The first NOAA official said there is going to be a focus on hiring in a smart, 'asymmetric' way that is 'based on workload.' The NWS, aided by lawmakers on Capitol Hill, had been arguing for months for a public safety exemption from the federal hiring freeze. That exemption has been granted, and the agency now has direct hiring authority under the Office of Personnel Management, the official told CNN. Direct hiring authority, according to OPM's website, can be given to federal agencies 'for filling vacancies when a critical hiring need or severe shortage of candidates exists.' It can help speed up the hiring process, the NOAA official said.
