One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
Yes, This Summer Has Been Hotter Than Normal
A pedestrian uses an umbrella on a hot sunny morning in Los Angeles, Oct. 24, 2017. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP/Getty Images)
If this summer has felt warmer than normal, that's because it has been.
This July was the 11th hottest on record for the U.S., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Here in California, temperatures have been about two degrees hotter than average, making this the 19th warmest start to a summer on record. Drought conditions, particularly in the northern part of the state, have slightly worsened over the past few months, due to high heat following a less than stellar rainy season.
(Courtesy National Weather Service)
In July, we saw heat waves cook SoCal's valley and desert areas with triple-digit scorchers. Death Valley hit 128 degrees, one of the hottest days ever recorded on planet Earth.
Hotter temperatures lead to an increase in heat-related deaths, especially among marginalized populations.
High temperatures also increase our wildfire risk, in part, because they dry vegetation to dangerously low moisture levels. High heat has been a contributing factor to the above-average number of fires we've seen across the state this year, including the 29,000-acre Apple Fire still burning in Riverside County.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
