Nevada Appeal news service Richard Gilder, of Fallon, takes a break from laying cinder block in 100-plus degree weather to quench his thirst. Gilder has been drinking 2-3 gallons of water per day during the heat wave.
FALLON - It's official. The heat wave that has seemingly melted Fallon is in the record books.
The National Weather Service confirmed that Fallon reached 100 degrees Fahrenheit at 4 p.m. Friday, marking the 11th straight day that the city has reached 100-degree temperatures.
That mark ties the record 11 consecutive 100-degree days that were recorded from June 16-26, 1961, in Fallon.
However, the town fell short of breaking the record Saturday, with the mercury rising to only 98 degrees at its high.
The heat streak began July 12, when the National Weather Service reported a 106-degree day in Fallon.
According to the Western Regional Climate Center at the Desert Research Institute in Reno, the July 12 high temperature was 2 degrees shy of the all-time hottest recorded day in Fallon - 108 degrees on July 12, 2002 - three years to the day before the record-tying steak began.
The city of Reno also set its own heat streak record Tuesday with its eighth straight day of 100-degree temperatures.
While the National Weather Service asks people to take precautions against the higher temperatures, the heat also raises the fire danger.
In Carson City, the forecast for the next few days is sunny skies and clear nights with temperatures reaching high 90s and into the low 100s.
Winds today are expected around 10-15 mph with gusts up to 30 mph.
Morning lows should be around 50-60 degrees.
The NWS issued red-flag warnings last week in Northern Nevada for the high risk of brush fires. Those have been canceled for now.
National Weather Service meteorologist Brian Brong said earlier this week that fire is a real issue when temperatures are up and humidity is down.
The worst conditions occur when there are wind gusts above 30 miles per hour and humidity below 15 percent. Thunderstorms that produce lots of lightning but not much rain are also a concern this time of year.
As for land conditions that can precipitate fires, Brong said mountain slopes, dry vegetation and "especially deserts" lend themselves to catching sparks.
"Usually during the day, fire will spread up a mountain slope," Brong said. "That's the way a fire will spread faster. Any kind of land with a large amount of vegetation on it like grasses or sage or something that will dry out quickly can carry a fire fast.
"It doesn't even have to be from a lightning strike. Someone can throw a cigarette butt out the window or someone that blows out a tire on the highway can create some sparks. A muffler getting too hot on an ATV or shooting off a gun and creating sparks after hitting a target can start a fire, too. It really can be just about anything that helps make a spark that can really start a fire when it's this hot."
n Contact reporter Burke Wasson at bwasson@lahontanvalleynews.com.
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