Western Heat Affects Quality, Availability

Be advised that the extremely high temperatures currently being experienced in the western United States is expected to affect the quality and availability of some products. The National Weather service issued the following statement regarding weather conditions:

WASHINGTON, August 18, 2020 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is issuing food safety recommendations for residents in the U.S. West Coast who may be impacted by power outages from an intense Western heat wave.

The National Weather Service is reporting that there is a strong mid/upper-level ridge of high pressure that is responsible for the heat wave across the western U.S. This system is producing high temperatures that will soar well beyond the century mark, with many locations surpassing 110 degrees Fahrenheit in the Desert Southwest, and perhaps isolated spots exceeding 120 degrees Fahrenheit, especially today. Some areas in California may experience power outages due to rolling blackouts.