This is the best summary I could come up with:

An ongoing heat wave has gripped the US West Coast, triggering record-breaking temperatures — a terrifying, climate change-driven reality.

Adding to the peril, the air is becoming so hot that helicopters are struggling to stay airborne, which is a particularly a dangerous situation given their important role in responding to emergencies in hard-to-reach places.

As the Washington Post reports, a California helicopter operator had to decline at least two rescue calls over the weekend, including a call related to the motorcyclist in Death Valley, who succumbed to heat exposure and was declared dead at the scene (temperatures rose to a stunning 128 degrees Fahrenheit the day the motorcyclist died.)

“Due to the high temperatures, emergency medical flight helicopters were unable to respond, as they generally cannot fly safely over 120 degrees,” a press release by the Death Valley National Park Service reads.

Death Valley Park Ranger Nichole Andler told the WaPo that some patients are driven to cooler altitudes by an ambulance first as a result.

Joshua Tree park ranger Anna Marini recalled that a hiker suffered from heat exhaustion a couple of weeks ago, and was successfully rescued via helicopter — something that may not always be possible

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