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On Monday, amid dangerous levels of heat across much of the United States, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) led five Senators in calling on the National Weather Service to publish an official federal definition for heat domes.
Ongoing heat domes have blanketed much of the United States this summer, shattering temperature records and threatening the health and safety of millions of Americans.
California has experienced record-breaking, dangerously high temperatures this summer, as cities including Bishop, Palmdale, Lancaster and Barstow-Daggett Airport recorded at least four consecutive days with temperatures of 110 degrees or more, with Palm Springs totaling 22 straight days.
Death Valley reached at least 125 degrees for nine straight days, and Ukiah, Redding, Palmdale and Lancaster all recently experienced their warmest weeks on record.
However, despite heat domes becoming more prevalent and more severe, there is currently no official, standardized federal definition for these events.
Formalizing a federal definition for heat domes is critical to provide clarity and help unlock federal funding and coordinate disaster responses across federal agencies.
The American Meteorological Society, or AMS, defines a heat dome as “an exceptionally hot air mass that develops when high pressure aloft prevents warm air below from rising, thus trapping the warm air as if it were in a dome.”
“As the foremost government agency tasked with defining hazardous weather and natural disasters, we believe the [National Weather Service] has a responsibility to define heat domes,” wrote the senators. “… We believe such a definition will be essential in improving interagency responses to extreme heat and will help save lives.”
Heat-related deaths have increased throughout the United States in recent years, with approximately 2,302 deaths in 2023, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
In California, extreme heat exposure caused about 3,900 deaths from 2010 to 2019, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.
In addition to Senator Padilla, the letter is signed by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
The full text of the letter is available below.
Dear Director Graham,
We write to request that the National Weather Service (NWS) publish a federal definition for the increasingly frequent weather phenomena known as “heat domes.” Despite heat domes becoming more prevalent and more severe, there is currently no official, standardized federal definition for these events.
Over the past two months, we saw deadly heat domes blanket much of the country, leading to record high temperatures for tens of millions of Americans. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued extreme heat advisories for much of the Southwest, where temperatures reached 113 degrees in Phoenix and 122 degrees in Death Valley. The heat domes then shifted eastward, setting record high temperatures from Texas to Georgia to New England.
During the heat dome in late June, the NWS also recorded two record highs in Maryland just days apart – June 24th in Beltsville and June 26th in Baltimore. Several news outlets have reported that the region’s “second-hottest summer” has led to a surge in heat-related hospitalizations and deaths and may even trigger a drought in Virginia. Coastal states and their major cities, which are often heat islands, experience the compounding impact of heat domes during heat waves due to their proximity to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
We commend the NWS for declaring excessive heat advisories and helping state and local governments stay aware of the threats that these heat domes pose. Tragically, heat-related deaths have been increasing in the U.S., with approximately 2,302 deaths in 2023, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The grave human threat from heat domes requires a precise definition that can be universally applied across federal agencies.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) defines a heat dome as “an exceptionally hot air mass that develops when high pressure aloft prevents warm air below from rising, thus trapping the warm air as if it were in a dome. The subsidence associated with the high pressure also causes further warming by compression. Heat domes are often associated with calm upper-level flow directly overhead and/or with blocking patterns.” News outlets have also provided similar definitions for the public to understand this natural weather phenomenon, but an official federal definition is needed for clarity and for coordinating responses.
As the foremost government agency tasked with defining hazardous weather and natural disasters, we believe the NWS has a responsibility to define heat domes. We strongly urge the NWS to utilize existing scientific definitions, including the definition published by the AMS, to publish a federal definition of heat domes to the NWS Glossary and any other publicly available information database. We believe such a definition will be essential in improving interagency responses to extreme heat and will help save lives.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Ongoing heat domes have blanketed much of the United States this summer, shattering temperature records and threatening the health and safety of millions of Americans.
California has experienced record-breaking, dangerously high temperatures this summer, as cities including Bishop, Palmdale, Lancaster and Barstow-Daggett Airport recorded at least four consecutive days with temperatures of 110 degrees or more, with Palm Springs totaling 22 straight days.
Death Valley reached at least 125 degrees for nine straight days, and Ukiah, Redding, Palmdale and Lancaster all recently experienced their warmest weeks on record.
However, despite heat domes becoming more prevalent and more severe, there is currently no official, standardized federal definition for these events.
Formalizing a federal definition for heat domes is critical to provide clarity and help unlock federal funding and coordinate disaster responses across federal agencies.
The American Meteorological Society, or AMS, defines a heat dome as “an exceptionally hot air mass that develops when high pressure aloft prevents warm air below from rising, thus trapping the warm air as if it were in a dome.”
“As the foremost government agency tasked with defining hazardous weather and natural disasters, we believe the [National Weather Service] has a responsibility to define heat domes,” wrote the senators. “… We believe such a definition will be essential in improving interagency responses to extreme heat and will help save lives.”
Heat-related deaths have increased throughout the United States in recent years, with approximately 2,302 deaths in 2023, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
In California, extreme heat exposure caused about 3,900 deaths from 2010 to 2019, according to a Los Angeles Times investigation.
In addition to Senator Padilla, the letter is signed by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).
The full text of the letter is available below.
Dear Director Graham,
We write to request that the National Weather Service (NWS) publish a federal definition for the increasingly frequent weather phenomena known as “heat domes.” Despite heat domes becoming more prevalent and more severe, there is currently no official, standardized federal definition for these events.
Over the past two months, we saw deadly heat domes blanket much of the country, leading to record high temperatures for tens of millions of Americans. The National Weather Service (NWS) issued extreme heat advisories for much of the Southwest, where temperatures reached 113 degrees in Phoenix and 122 degrees in Death Valley. The heat domes then shifted eastward, setting record high temperatures from Texas to Georgia to New England.
During the heat dome in late June, the NWS also recorded two record highs in Maryland just days apart – June 24th in Beltsville and June 26th in Baltimore. Several news outlets have reported that the region’s “second-hottest summer” has led to a surge in heat-related hospitalizations and deaths and may even trigger a drought in Virginia. Coastal states and their major cities, which are often heat islands, experience the compounding impact of heat domes during heat waves due to their proximity to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
We commend the NWS for declaring excessive heat advisories and helping state and local governments stay aware of the threats that these heat domes pose. Tragically, heat-related deaths have been increasing in the U.S., with approximately 2,302 deaths in 2023, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The grave human threat from heat domes requires a precise definition that can be universally applied across federal agencies.
The American Meteorological Society (AMS) defines a heat dome as “an exceptionally hot air mass that develops when high pressure aloft prevents warm air below from rising, thus trapping the warm air as if it were in a dome. The subsidence associated with the high pressure also causes further warming by compression. Heat domes are often associated with calm upper-level flow directly overhead and/or with blocking patterns.” News outlets have also provided similar definitions for the public to understand this natural weather phenomenon, but an official federal definition is needed for clarity and for coordinating responses.
As the foremost government agency tasked with defining hazardous weather and natural disasters, we believe the NWS has a responsibility to define heat domes. We strongly urge the NWS to utilize existing scientific definitions, including the definition published by the AMS, to publish a federal definition of heat domes to the NWS Glossary and any other publicly available information database. We believe such a definition will be essential in improving interagency responses to extreme heat and will help save lives.
Thank you for your consideration of this request.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The temperatures that impacted Lake County as part of an early July heat wave didn’t just seem extremely hot — they actually broke records.
In response to questions from Lake County News about the early July heat wave, the National Weather Service’s Eureka office offered an analysis of 30 years of data from long term weather stations in Lake County, most of them used for fire weather.
James White of the National Weather Service reviewed data from a RAWS weather station on the slopes of Mt. Konocti that has been in place since 1995.
Of that station's top 10 high temperatures ever recorded, four occurred in the first two weeks of July, White said.
Those four top temperatures were as follows:
• No. 1: July 6, 112 degrees.
• No. 2: July 7, 110 degrees (tied for second with Sept. 6, 2022, and July 10, 2002).
• No. 5: July 5, 109 degrees (tied for fifth with June 25, 2006, and July 11, 2002).
• No. 8: July 13, 108 degrees (tied for eighth with Sept. 5, 2022; Sept. 2, 1998; and Aug. 4, 1998).
“That information is impressive in its own right. Looking at the same station, it is clear this heat wave was exceptionally long lived,” White said. “For example at the same station, this past heatwave had by far the hottest 10 day average of any heatwave.”
White said that the period of July 3 to July 13, 2024, had an average daily high of 107, which “blows the next highest record out of the water.”
That next highest heat period was the 10 days from July 15 to July 25, 2006, which had an average daily high of 103, White said.
“The longevity of the heat wave is also obvious in the number of days over 100,” White said.
He pointed out that there were 12 days in a row with highs over 100 degrees at the Konocti RAWS weather station between July 1 and July 13.
White said that also tops the previous record of eight days over 100 degrees, which occurred between Aug. 8 and Aug. 16, 2002.
Email Elizabeth Larson atThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
In response to questions from Lake County News about the early July heat wave, the National Weather Service’s Eureka office offered an analysis of 30 years of data from long term weather stations in Lake County, most of them used for fire weather.
James White of the National Weather Service reviewed data from a RAWS weather station on the slopes of Mt. Konocti that has been in place since 1995.
Of that station's top 10 high temperatures ever recorded, four occurred in the first two weeks of July, White said.
Those four top temperatures were as follows:
• No. 1: July 6, 112 degrees.
• No. 2: July 7, 110 degrees (tied for second with Sept. 6, 2022, and July 10, 2002).
• No. 5: July 5, 109 degrees (tied for fifth with June 25, 2006, and July 11, 2002).
• No. 8: July 13, 108 degrees (tied for eighth with Sept. 5, 2022; Sept. 2, 1998; and Aug. 4, 1998).
“That information is impressive in its own right. Looking at the same station, it is clear this heat wave was exceptionally long lived,” White said. “For example at the same station, this past heatwave had by far the hottest 10 day average of any heatwave.”
White said that the period of July 3 to July 13, 2024, had an average daily high of 107, which “blows the next highest record out of the water.”
That next highest heat period was the 10 days from July 15 to July 25, 2006, which had an average daily high of 103, White said.
“The longevity of the heat wave is also obvious in the number of days over 100,” White said.
He pointed out that there were 12 days in a row with highs over 100 degrees at the Konocti RAWS weather station between July 1 and July 13.
White said that also tops the previous record of eight days over 100 degrees, which occurred between Aug. 8 and Aug. 16, 2002.
Email Elizabeth Larson at
- Details
- Written by: Elizabeth Larson
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The California Highway Patrol’s Clear Lake Area office is welcoming two new officers from the latest class of CHP Academy graduates.
Officer Wyatt Griffith and Officer Blake Bartlett were among 102 officers who graduated on Friday, July 12, at the Academy in West Sacramento.
After 26 weeks of intensive training, the group was officially sworn in.
Newly promoted officers receive extensive in-field training with experienced officers for approximately four months.
Lake County is a special area, different from larger metropolitan areas, with its unique landscape and rural roadways that will test these officer’s skills.
The agency said its ultimate goal is to get all newly promoted officers ready to face the challenges they will encounter on a day-to-day basis so they can provide the highest level of safety, service and security to the people of California.
The CHP is hiring. Visit www.chpmadeformore.com and see how you can make a difference in your community, save lives and have a great career as a CHP officer.
- Details
- Written by: Lake County News reports
From small towns to city lights, Team USA sent 594 athletes to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, that officially opened July 24.
This summer, 46 states are sending their hometown heroes to compete against the best athletes in the world.
California, the most populous state, is sending the most (120) followed by Florida (42), Texas (41), Illinois (27) and Pennsylvania (27).
Vermont is sending the most athletes per capita (4.63 per million) followed by Colorado (4.42 per million), Montana (3.53 per million), Hawaii (3.48 per million) and California (3.07 per million).
Throughout this article, all per capita calculations use Vintage 2023 Population Estimates state or city and town population totals.
The full roster of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team shows athletes by state, including their name, sport, hometown and event.
Calculations of athletes per state, athletes per hometown city, or per capita were made using the full roster as of its publication date on July 10, 2024. The team roster is subject to change before and throughout the Olympic games.
Team USA stats and fun facts
Ten hometown cities are sending five or more Olympians to the Summer Games in Paris: San Diego (11); Houston (10); Los Angeles (9); Atlanta, Chicago and Miami (six each); and Charlotte, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Jose (five each).
Of these 10 hometown cities, Miami is sending the most per capita (13.16 per million), followed by Atlanta (11.74 per million) and Long Beach (11.12 per million).
Several Team USA members hail from hometowns outside the continental United States: Five are from hometowns in Hawaii; two are from Alaska; and one is from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Two athletes’ come from hometowns across the Atlantic Ocean: Frankfurt, Germany, and Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy. Another athlete lists both Beijing, China, and Palo Alto, California, as their hometown.
There are 315 women and 279 men on Team USA, making this the fourth consecutive Olympic Games with more women than men on the team.
Gymnast Hezly Rivera (age 16) is the youngest member and equestrian Steffen Peters (age 59) is the oldest member of Team USA.
To date, 138 athletes have qualified for the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team, which will be announced on August 19. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are set to take place from August 28 to September 8, featuring 4,400 athletes from around the world competing in 22 sports.
Going for the Gold in 2024
The 2024 Summer Games features 329 medal events in 32 sports.
Some are new. Breaking, for example, is now an Olympic sport. This urban dance style, which originated in New York City, is one of the foundational elements of hip hop culture worldwide. The B-Boy and B-Girl competitions begin August 9.
Kiteboarding and Kayak Cross are also new events this year, while Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing and 3X3 Basketball are back after debuting in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Team USA includes more than 250 returning Olympians, 122 Olympic medalists and 66 Olympic champions, according to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Of the 122 Olympic medalists, 45 have won multiple medals, 23 of them multiple gold medals.
Here’s a closer look at who is competing:
Swimmer Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Maryland) leads the team with 10 Olympic medals, including seven gold and three silver medals.
Gymnast Simone Biles (Spring, Texas) and swimmer Caeleb Dressel (Micanopy, Florida) enter the 2024 Summer Games with seven medals each.
Swimmer Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Florida) has six medals.
Basketball player Diana Taurasi (Glendale, California); swimmer Lilly King (Evansville, Indiana); and swimmer Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas) each have five medals.
The Team USA roster includes three five-time Olympians:
Basketball player Diana Taurasi (Glendale, California).
Equestrian Steffen Peters (San Diego, California).
Equestrian McLain Ward (Brewster, New York).
Four four-time Olympians are competing:
Archer Brady Ellison (Billings, Montana).
Fencer Gerek Meinhardt (Lexington, Kentucky).
Sailor Stu McNay (Barrington, Rhode Island).
Marksman Vincent Hancock (Argyle, Texas).
More U.S. sports facts
In 2022, there were 40,786 fitness and recreational sports centers establishments in the United States. They employed 649,964 people and had a $12 billion annual payroll.
There were about 158,000 athletes, coaches, and umpires in the United States out of a total workforce of nearly 117 million in 2022.
A brief history of the Olympics, the United States and France
The modern Olympics began in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
The United States has hosted more Olympics than any other country: four Summer Games (1904, 1932, 1984, 1996) and four Winter Games (1932, 1960, 1980, 2002).
The next two Summer Games are set to be held in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia in 2032.
France has now hosted six Olympics: three Summer Games (1900, 1924, 2024) and three Winter Games (1924, 1968, 1992).
Paris joins London in the United Kingdom as the only two cities to host the Olympic Games three times. London hosted the Summer Games in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
France is ranked 22nd with a 2024 population of 68.4 million.
Follow the Census Bureau on social media to make sure you don’t miss out on more statistics and fun facts about the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Anthony Calabrese is chief of the Promotions Branch in the Census Bureau’s Communications Directorate.
This summer, 46 states are sending their hometown heroes to compete against the best athletes in the world.
California, the most populous state, is sending the most (120) followed by Florida (42), Texas (41), Illinois (27) and Pennsylvania (27).
Vermont is sending the most athletes per capita (4.63 per million) followed by Colorado (4.42 per million), Montana (3.53 per million), Hawaii (3.48 per million) and California (3.07 per million).
Throughout this article, all per capita calculations use Vintage 2023 Population Estimates state or city and town population totals.
The full roster of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team shows athletes by state, including their name, sport, hometown and event.
Calculations of athletes per state, athletes per hometown city, or per capita were made using the full roster as of its publication date on July 10, 2024. The team roster is subject to change before and throughout the Olympic games.
Team USA stats and fun facts
Ten hometown cities are sending five or more Olympians to the Summer Games in Paris: San Diego (11); Houston (10); Los Angeles (9); Atlanta, Chicago and Miami (six each); and Charlotte, Las Vegas, Long Beach and San Jose (five each).
Of these 10 hometown cities, Miami is sending the most per capita (13.16 per million), followed by Atlanta (11.74 per million) and Long Beach (11.12 per million).
Several Team USA members hail from hometowns outside the continental United States: Five are from hometowns in Hawaii; two are from Alaska; and one is from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Two athletes’ come from hometowns across the Atlantic Ocean: Frankfurt, Germany, and Santa Margherita Ligure, Italy. Another athlete lists both Beijing, China, and Palo Alto, California, as their hometown.
There are 315 women and 279 men on Team USA, making this the fourth consecutive Olympic Games with more women than men on the team.
Gymnast Hezly Rivera (age 16) is the youngest member and equestrian Steffen Peters (age 59) is the oldest member of Team USA.
To date, 138 athletes have qualified for the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Team, which will be announced on August 19. The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games are set to take place from August 28 to September 8, featuring 4,400 athletes from around the world competing in 22 sports.
Going for the Gold in 2024
The 2024 Summer Games features 329 medal events in 32 sports.
Some are new. Breaking, for example, is now an Olympic sport. This urban dance style, which originated in New York City, is one of the foundational elements of hip hop culture worldwide. The B-Boy and B-Girl competitions begin August 9.
Kiteboarding and Kayak Cross are also new events this year, while Skateboarding, Sport Climbing, Surfing and 3X3 Basketball are back after debuting in the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Team USA includes more than 250 returning Olympians, 122 Olympic medalists and 66 Olympic champions, according to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Of the 122 Olympic medalists, 45 have won multiple medals, 23 of them multiple gold medals.
Here’s a closer look at who is competing:
Swimmer Katie Ledecky (Bethesda, Maryland) leads the team with 10 Olympic medals, including seven gold and three silver medals.
Gymnast Simone Biles (Spring, Texas) and swimmer Caeleb Dressel (Micanopy, Florida) enter the 2024 Summer Games with seven medals each.
Swimmer Ryan Murphy (Jacksonville, Florida) has six medals.
Basketball player Diana Taurasi (Glendale, California); swimmer Lilly King (Evansville, Indiana); and swimmer Simone Manuel (Sugar Land, Texas) each have five medals.
The Team USA roster includes three five-time Olympians:
Basketball player Diana Taurasi (Glendale, California).
Equestrian Steffen Peters (San Diego, California).
Equestrian McLain Ward (Brewster, New York).
Four four-time Olympians are competing:
Archer Brady Ellison (Billings, Montana).
Fencer Gerek Meinhardt (Lexington, Kentucky).
Sailor Stu McNay (Barrington, Rhode Island).
Marksman Vincent Hancock (Argyle, Texas).
More U.S. sports facts
In 2022, there were 40,786 fitness and recreational sports centers establishments in the United States. They employed 649,964 people and had a $12 billion annual payroll.
There were about 158,000 athletes, coaches, and umpires in the United States out of a total workforce of nearly 117 million in 2022.
A brief history of the Olympics, the United States and France
The modern Olympics began in 1896 in Athens, Greece.
The United States has hosted more Olympics than any other country: four Summer Games (1904, 1932, 1984, 1996) and four Winter Games (1932, 1960, 1980, 2002).
The next two Summer Games are set to be held in Los Angeles in 2028 and in Brisbane, Australia in 2032.
France has now hosted six Olympics: three Summer Games (1900, 1924, 2024) and three Winter Games (1924, 1968, 1992).
Paris joins London in the United Kingdom as the only two cities to host the Olympic Games three times. London hosted the Summer Games in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
France is ranked 22nd with a 2024 population of 68.4 million.
Follow the Census Bureau on social media to make sure you don’t miss out on more statistics and fun facts about the 2024 Summer Games in Paris.
Anthony Calabrese is chief of the Promotions Branch in the Census Bureau’s Communications Directorate.
- Details
- Written by: Anthony Calabrese
