Why do heat waves occur in places close to the Pacific Ocean?
Yes it normally it is cool because generally the normal air flow is from the southwest off the cooler ocean. But during a heat wave a high pressure area locates over Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and New Mexico. This is a clockwise circulation of descending air that is also heating by compression. So now the air is coming from the east and it also crosses mountains and descends towards the coast this further warms the air. Often during these events the hottest places can be ocean side locations because they are the furthest from the mountains and the air can heat up the most.
