Dangerously hot conditions will dominate the rest of the long Independence Day weekend across much of the US West Coast, south-east and Middle Atlantic seaboard, forecasters said on Friday, as California firefighters battled one of the first big wildfires of the season.
About 125 million were under heat alerts nationwide, with more than 100 million under excessive heat advisories for the weekend.
Record-breaking temperatures were forecast for many spots in California, southern Oregon and the south-west, the National Weather Service said, with Death Valley facing the possibility of approaching its hottest-ever temperature of 56.6°C, set in 1913.
Parts of the western part of the country were expected to reach about 43°C on Friday, with some of the highest temperatures to be found in Phoenix, Arizona – the hottest large US city – which could hit 46°C, and Palm Springs, California, where the mercury could reach 48°C.
“Confidence is increasing that this potentially historic heatwave will last several days,” the National Weather Service in Portland said on X, adding that the risk of heat-related illness will increase significantly.
The weather service urged people to stay hydrated, out of the sunlight and in buildings with sufficient air-conditioning.
Stifling heat will also prevail from Mississippi to Florida, and north along the East Coast to Pennsylvania, where temperatures will reach past 37°C.
The National Weather Service warned that hot overnight conditions across the Mississippi Valley could lead to “a dangerous situation for those without access to adequate cooling”.
Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the US, leaving hundreds of people dead each year, according to the National Weather Service.
A 69-year-old man died due to heat-related issues in San Jose, California, this week, while a 10-year-old died in Arizona after experiencing a heat-related emergency while hiking with family.
Southern Texas faces a different sort of threat early next week when remnants of Hurricane Beryl are expected to dump heavy rains on the region.
Beryl, the first hurricane of the season, made landfall in Mexico on Friday after killing 11 people as it carved a path of destruction across the Caribbean earlier this week.
Wildfires
Hot, dry and windy conditions in the West were forcing fire officials and forecasters to issue warnings about the risk of wildfires.
The extreme heat, along with gusting winds and low humidity, means any fires that start are likely to spread quickly through already parched vegetation.
The so-called Thompson Fire in Butte County, California, about 105km north of Sacramento, has scorched almost 16km of scrub and brush since it started on Tuesday.
As of Friday morning, the fire was 46 per cent contained after forcing some 13,000 households to evacuate.
Fifty-nine wildfires have burnt almost 1,900 square kilometres acres in nine states, according to the National Interagency Fire Centre.
Twenty-one wildfires are being managed under full suppression strategies, with Alaska continuing to have the most activity, with 39 large fires.
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
Know your camel milk:
Flavour: Similar to goat’s milk, although less pungent. Vaguely sweet with a subtle, salty aftertaste.
Texture: Smooth and creamy, with a slightly thinner consistency than cow’s milk.
Use it: In your morning coffee, to add flavour to homemade ice cream and milk-heavy desserts, smoothies, spiced camel-milk hot chocolate.
Goes well with: chocolate and caramel, saffron, cardamom and cloves. Also works well with honey and dates.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THREE
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The biog
Name: Shamsa Hassan Safar
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Degree in emergency medical services at Higher Colleges of Technology
Favourite book: Between two hearts- Arabic novels
Favourite music: Mohammed Abdu and modern Arabic songs
Favourite way to spend time off: Family visits and spending time with friends
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
Should late investors consider cryptocurrencies?
Wealth managers recommend late investors to have a balanced portfolio that typically includes traditional assets such as cash, government and corporate bonds, equities, commodities and commercial property.
They do not usually recommend investing in Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies due to the risk and volatility associated with them.
“It has produced eye-watering returns for some, whereas others have lost substantially as this has all depended purely on timing and when the buy-in was. If someone still has about 20 to 25 years until retirement, there isn’t any need to take such risks,” Rupert Connor of Abacus Financial Consultant says.
He adds that if a person is interested in owning a business or growing a property portfolio to increase their retirement income, this can be encouraged provided they keep in mind the overall risk profile of these assets.
