California urges residents to cut power use as searing heatwave grips US west

Temperatures are expected to reach highs of above 100F (38C) as the region continues to be battered by the climate crisis

California has urged residents to cut power use as a searing heatwave settles over the state and stretches power supplies to a breaking point, in the latest sign of extreme weather conditions in the US west.

Temperatures in the most populous state are forecast to climb to well above 100F (38C) during the afternoon.