Last updated October 15, 2021
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California Statewide Heat Wave September 2017

United States

"The greatest statewide heat wave ever recorded in California"[1] began in late August and lasted through early September, as a major high pressure system stalled over the western United States. Many locations broke daily, monthly, and all time temperature records.[2] Most notably, San Francisco broke its all time heat record, reaching 106°F on September 1.[3]

Record breaking heat waves are a classic signal of climate change. The trend in global warming has contributed to the severity and probability of 82 percent of record-hot days globally over the 1961-2010 period.[4]

The heat wave bears several signatures of heat waves on a warming planet: record-breaking heat, hot nights, high humidity, long duration, and increasing frequency.

This heat wave comes on the heels of June’s heat wave, which also broke temperatures records across the state.

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Heat Wave
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Global Warming
Large Scale Global Circulation Change
Atmospheric Blocking Increase
Air Mass Temperature Increase
Extreme Heat and Heat Waves
California Statewide Heat Wave September 2017