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California Labor Day Weekend Brings Heat, Fire, Virus Fears

Associated Press

   LOS ANGELES - Excessive heat warnings began going into effect in
   California on Friday as forecasters predicted that high pressure
   building over the western U.S. would send temperatures soaring to
   dangerous levels during the long Labor Day weekend.

   Initial warnings issued for Southern California's valleys, mountains
   and deserts were expected to expand out to the coast and into Northern
   California by Saturday.

   A "brutally hot" four days are in store, the National Weather Service
   wrote.

   Downtown Los Angeles was forecast to reach 107 degrees (41.6 Celsius)
   on Saturday and 108 on Sunday (42.2 Celsius). Napa in the wine country
   could reach 113 degrees (45 Celsius), and Palm Springs could reach 120
   (48.8 Celsius).

   Fleeing to beaches, mountains

   The forecasts brought calls for Californians to conserve electricity
   and raised concerns that people flocking to beaches or mountains to
   escape the heat could spread the coronavirus.

   The rush was already on in the popular San Bernardino National Forest
   east of Los Angeles, where high elevations and lakes offer respite.

   "I got a note that most of the campgrounds in the San Bernardino
   mountain range are already full and I expect them to be completely full
   within the hour," forest spokesman Zach Behrens said at midmorning
   Friday.

   The California Independent System Operator, which runs California's
   power grid, issued a "Flex Alert" for the hours of 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.
   Saturday through Monday, asking people to conserve power by not using
   washing machines and other appliances during the period and keeping
   their air conditioners at 78 degrees (25.5 Celsius) or above.

   "We're not forecasting any blackouts" at the moment because of the
   heat, but the power system could be strained by unforeseen problems,
   such as a fire that disrupts a power line, Cal ISO Operations Vice
   President Eric Schmitt said.

   Cal ISO also ordered power generators to postpone routine maintenance
   and restore any out-of-service transmission lines.

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