Edwards AFB prepares for five days of triple-digit heat

  • Published
  • By Gary Davis
  • 412th Operations Support Squadron
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  

Summer is cranked to the maximum at Edwards Air Force Base this week, as the community prepares for a punishing, five-day stretch of triple-digit desert heat and heightened wildfire danger starting Thursday.

A stubborn, hot air mass is settling over the region from Thursday, July 23, through Monday, July 27. Afternoon highs are expected to average near 109 degrees, with Friday, July 24, forecast as the peak of the heatwave with temperatures flirting with a scorching 111 degrees.

The recipe to beat the heat is straightforward: hydrate early and often, seek out air conditioning, limit direct sun exposure, and look out for one another by checking on vulnerable coworkers, neighbors and family members. Supervisors should ensure their subordinates are aware and well-informed of work-and-rest cycles when initiated.  

Those whose daily routines involve heavy outdoor exertion, should dial it back, reschedule workouts to the early morning hours or move activities indoors. Drivers are also issued a critical reminder: Never leave a child or a pet in a vehicle. On hot days, interior cabin temperatures can skyrocket to lethal levels in mere minutes.

Beyond the scorching temperatures, the high desert’s bone-dry vegetation and single-digit relative humidity are raising both the wildfire risk and the need for vigilance.

Preventing a fire starts with mindful daily operations. Residents and workers must avoid any activities that could throw sparks into dry brush, which means putting a temporary hold on outdoor welding, operating power tools safely and ensuring cigarettes are fully extinguished. All outdoor activities must comply with local burn bans and standing fire restrictions.

At home, residents should take a few moments to ensure they have defensible space cleared around structures. Emergency go-bags and evacuation plans should also be reviewed and ready just in case a fast-moving fire breaks out.

If anyone sees smoke or spots signs of fire, they should report it immediately to Edwards AFB Fire and Emergency Services at 661-277-3330 or notify local emergency authorities.

For tips on staying cool, visit weather.gov/safety/heat. For the latest local weather updates, contact the Edwards AFB Weather Station directly at 661-277-4472.


The recipe to beat the heat is straightforward: hydrate early and often, seek out air conditioning, limit direct sun exposure, and look out for one another by checking on vulnerable coworkers, neighbors and family members. Those whose daily routines involve heavy outdoor exertion, should dial it back, reschedule workouts to the early morning hours or move activities indoors.