By Andrew Freedman, CNN

(CNN) — Meteorologists are reaching for superlatives to describe an oncoming heat wave so intense and rare for this time of year that it could leave some locations shattering their all-time temperature records for April before that month has even begun.

This extreme event, made far worse by human-caused climate change, will bring summerlike temperatures during March to locations from California to Texas, northward all the way to Montana. Extreme heat warnings and other heat alerts are in effect for millions from San Francisco to Phoenix and are likely to expand with time.

The event is just getting underway. Before it ends later next week, it will have scorched nearly the entire Western part of the country and parts of the Plains states, toppling dozens of daily and monthly temperature records by unusually large margins.

In Phoenix, for example, the all-time March high temperature record is 100 degrees, but during this heat wave the temperature is forecast to climb to at least 106 degrees and remain above the century mark for multiple days.

“Many locations are likely to set both all-time high temperatures for the month of March and their earliest 100-degree temperature on record,” the National Weather Service stated, predicting high temperatures of up to 30 degrees above average for this time of year.

This extreme heat event may be comparable in its intensity and rarity to the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave, which killed hundreds and sent temperatures soaring into the 120s Fahrenheit in Oregon and Washington State during June. Temperatures won’t be nearly that hot over the next two weeks (it is still March, after all) but both events stemmed from the same place: record-strong heat domes parked over a particular region of the country for extended periods of time — plus a healthy dose of climate change.

A heat dome is a sprawling and strong area of high pressure extending thousands of feet into the atmosphere. That pressure pushes down on the air underneath it, compressing and heating it. This also squelches any storm activity, and heat domes can act like detour signs in the atmosphere, rerouting storms around them. This one is likely to set records for its strength relative to the time of year and could even rival or beat previous intense heat domes that existed during the summer months, such as the 2021 event.

Its intensity is important because meteorologists use such measurements, in addition to surface temperatures, to compare heat waves throughout history and conduct studies of climate change’s influence.

Studies showed that 2021 heat wave would have been virtually impossible in the absence of climate change from the burning of fossil fuels. As the planet warms, studies have repeatedly shown that heat waves are becoming more likely, longer lasting and more severe. Since that earlier extreme heat event, multiple heat waves elsewhere in the world have been found to be possible only with the human contribution of planet-warming pollution.

Russ Schumacher, a meteorologist and Colorado’s state climatologist, called the heat dome “astonishing” for its intensity in March. Other meteorologists have described the strength of the heat dome as “genuinely startling” and “mind-boggling” via social media.

“With warming, you expect the warm conditions to be more likely and happen more frequently,” Schumacher said. “When you get a heat wave, you expect it to be warmer or lasting longer.”

“But it also just takes a really unusual weather pattern to set something like this u

CNN, WBTV, LORI AND ANDY LOGAN, HARDIN COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WCNC, WSMV, WZTV, KARE, WISDOT

By Andrew Freedman, CNN

(CNN) — Meteorologists are reaching for superlatives to describe an oncoming heat wave so intense and rare for this time of year that it could leave some locations shattering their all-time temperature records for April before that month has even begun.

This extreme event, made far worse by human-caused climate change, will bring summerlike temperatures during March to locations from California to Texas, northward all the way to Montana. Extreme heat warnings and other heat alerts are in effect for millions from San Francisco to Phoenix and are likely to expand with time.

The event is just getting underway. Before it ends later next week, it will have scorched nearly the entire Western part of the country and parts of the Plains states, toppling dozens of daily and monthly temperature records by unusually large margins.

In Phoenix, for example, the all-time March high temperature record is 100 degrees, but during this heat wave the temperature is forecast to climb to at least 106 degrees and remain above the century mark for multiple days.

“Many locations are likely to set both all-time high temperatures for the month of March and their earliest 100-degree temperature on record,” the National Weather Service stated, predicting high temperatures of up to 30 degrees above average for this time of year.

This extreme heat event may be comparable in its intensity and rarity to the 2021 Pacific Northwest heat wave, which killed hundreds and sent temperatures soaring into the 120s Fahrenheit in Oregon and Washington State during June. Temperatures won’t be nearly that hot over the next two weeks (it is still March, after all) but both events stemmed from the same place: record-strong heat domes parked over a particular region of the country for extended periods of time — plus a healthy dose of climate change.

A heat dome is a sprawling and strong area of high pressure extending thousands of feet into the atmosphere. That pressure pushes down on the air underneath it, compressing and heating it. This also squelches any storm activity, and heat domes can act like detour signs in the atmosphere, rerouting storms around them. This one is likely to set records for its strength relative to the time of year and could even rival or beat previous intense heat domes that existed during the summer months, such as the 2021 event.

Its intensity is important because meteorologists use such measurements, in addition to surface temperatures, to compare heat waves throughout history and conduct studies of climate change’s influence.

Studies showed that 2021 heat wave would have been virtually impossible in the absence of climate change from the burning of fossil fuels. As the planet warms, studies have repeatedly shown that heat waves are becoming more likely, longer lasting and more severe. Since that earlier extreme heat event, multiple heat waves elsewhere i

By Brad Lendon, Isaac Yee, CNN

(CNN) — A US Navy warship believed to be carrying thousands of Marines and sailors to the Middle East is nearing the Malacca Strait off Singapore as it makes its way to the region, maritime tracking data showed Tuesday.

The amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli was approaching Singapore, at the southwestern edge of the South China Sea, Tuesday morning, according to AIS tracking data seen by CNN.

US Navy ships often move with AIS transponders turned off. Revealing their positions while transiting areas with heavy maritime traffic, like the waters around Singapore, enables safer operations.

The Tripoli is believed to be carrying troops from the Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), a rapid-response force of 2,200 personnel, after the Pentagon ordered the unit to deploy, according to three officials familiar with the plans.

CNN has asked the US Navy’s 7th Fleet and 5th Fleet for comment.

Officials told CNN the unit was being sent to the Middle East, without revealing exactly where it would be deployed or what it would be used for.

An MEU consists of four elements: command, ground combat, air combat and logistics combat. MEUs typically have been used for missions like evacuations and amphibious operations that require ship-to-shore movements, like raids and assaults. They also have ground and aviation combat components, and some units are trained for special operations.

Marinetraffic.com showed a track for an “unspecified US warship” departing Okinawa on March 11, through the South China Sea and nearing Singapore Tuesday morning at a speed of about 22 mph.

Based in Sasebo, Japan, the Tripoli, almost 850 feet long and displacing 45,000 tons, is essentially a small aircraft carrier and carries F-35 stealth fighters and MV-22 Osprey transports as well as landing craft to move troops ashore.

It is the lead ship in an amphibious ready group, which would normally include the amphibious transport docks USS New Orleans and USS San Diego. CNN could not confirm the presence of those smaller ships with the Tripoli in maritime tracking sites Tuesday.

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Por Tim Lister

Ali Larijani, jefe del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional de Irán, a quien el ministro de Defensa de Israel Katz, declaró “eliminar” la noche de este martes, se había convertido en una de las figuras más importantes de Irán en los últimos meses.

En primer lugar, se lo consideró un líder importante en la represión de las protestas populares de enero, y posteriormente, parte de la transición que siguió a la muerte del líder supremo Ali Jamenei.

Este hombre de 67 años tenía una larga trayectoria vinculada al Cuerpo de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica (CGRI, por sus siglas) y se ha convertido en un símbolo visible del régimen, llegando incluso a participar en una manifestación pública la semana pasada en Teherán a pesar de ser un objetivo prioritario para Israel.

Larijani se ha desenvuelto con destreza en la política de la República Islámica, desempeñando diversos cargos. Fue comandante de la Guardia Revolucionaria durante la guerra con Iraq en la década de 1980, antes de dedicarse a la política.

Larijani fue director de la emisora ​​estatal, principal negociador nuclear de Irán y presidente del parlamento iraní (durante 12 años, hasta 2020), y tras su nombramiento como asesor en 2004, tuvo cada vez más influencia sobre Jamenei en cuestiones de seguridad.

Tras el conflicto del año pasado con Israel, volvió a cobrar protagonismo como jefe del Consejo de Seguridad Nacional, considerado por muchos analistas como el máximo responsable de la toma de decisiones en Irán.

Larijani proviene de una influyente familia clerical de la República Islámica. Uno de sus hermanos, Sadegh, es ayatola y exjefe del poder judicial de Irán.

También era un académico de renombre. Formado inicialmente en matemáticas e informática en la Universidad Tecnológica de Sharif, obtuvo un doctorado en filosofía por la Universidad de Teherán y escribió extensamente sobre la obra del filósofo alemán Immanuel Kant.

Según los analistas, si bien Larijani era visto como un pragmático más que como un ideólogo intransigente, está comprometido con la supervivencia de la República Islámica como el nezam de Irán , o sistema de gobierno.

Según los analistas, desde el comienzo del conflicto, Larijani ha provocado con frecuencia al presidente de Estados Unidos Donald Trump y ha sido fundamental en la elaboración de la estrategia bélica de Irán.

“A diferencia de Estados Unidos, (Irán) se ha preparado para una guerra larga”, publicó en X poco después de que comenzara el conflicto.

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By Hanna Ziady, CNN

London (CNN) — Oil prices spiked Tuesday as Iran intensified its attacks on energy infrastructure across the Middle East and a senior regime figure suggested that the crucial Strait of Hormuz wouldn’t become safe for ships anytime soon.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose more than 4% before paring gains to trade 2.9% higher on the day at $103 a barrel. WTI, the US benchmark, climbed by a similar margin before falling back and trading 2.9% higher at $96.

In a televised interview Tuesday, Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said the Strait of Hormuz remained under threat because of the American and Israeli presence in the Gulf region.

“The Strait of Hormuz cannot be the same as before and return to its previous conditions,” Qalibaf said, adding that “there is no longer any security.” He also cautioned that US bombs and jets could not destroy Iran’s weapons facilities.

Iran’s fresh attacks on energy infrastructure have added to worries about global oil and natural gas supply. The United Arab Emirates suspended operations at its Shah natural gas field outside Abu Dhabi following a drone attack Tuesday. A separate drone strike caused a fire at the key Emirati oil port of Fujairah, while an Iraqi oil field also came under attack.

Meanwhile, a tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” late Monday near Fujairah, the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre said. The center has recorded more than a dozen attacks on vessels in the Persian Gulf and near the Strait of Hormuz since US-Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28.

Tuesday’s jump in oil prices follows a fall in the previous trading session. On Monday, Brent closed 2.8% lower on the day and the S&P 500 had its best daily performance since the start of the war, “as hopes mounted for a resumption of oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz,” said Jim Reid, Deutsche Bank’s head of global macroeconomic research.

Crude oil prices remain about 40% higher than before US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted Tehran to choke off the Strait of Hormuz, ordinarily a conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

US President Donald Trump has called on allies to help reopen the strait, warning that NATO faces a “very bad future” if countries fail to assist. But European leaders remain wary of becoming embroiled in the war.

On Monday, the European Union decided against expanding its naval operations in the Middle East following a meeting of foreign ministers.

“Europe has no interest in an open-ended war,” Kaja Kallas, the EU’s top diplomat, told journalists in Brussels following the meeting. “This is not Europe’s war,” she said, though she added that Europe’s int