More extreme heat + more people = danger in these California cities. ‘Will it get as hot as Death Valley?’
A tennis court is almost empty in Lancaster, where ground surface temperatures reached 150 degrees on Aug. 15, 2024. Lancaster is among California cities projected to have a fast-growing population and more than 25 high heat days a year by 2050. Photo by Ted Soqui for CalMatters In summary
Inland communities with big population booms will experience the most extreme heat days under climate change projections. The combination puts more people at risk — and many cities are unprepared. Welcome to CalMatters, the only nonprofit newsroom devoted solely to covering issues that affect all Californians. Sign up for The Inland Empire newsletter to receive a weekly look at how people in the I.E. are living, learning and working. On a recent sunny afternoon in Lancaster, Cassandra Hughes looked for a place to cool down. She set up a lawn chair in the shade at the edge of a park and spent the afternoon with a coloring book, listening to hip-hop music.
Reaching a high of 97 degrees, this August day was pleasant by Lancaster standards — a breeze offered temporary relief. But just the week before, during a brutal heat wave, the high hit 109. For Hughes, the Mojave Desert […]
