Sweltering, summerlike heat scorches West as temperatures soar above 100 degrees in Las Vegas, Phoenix
Millions of people across the western U.S. are continuing to deal with a potentially deadly heat wave, and by Thursday, more than 220 million Americans will be at risk of experiencing a heat-related illness as the summerlike temperatures expand to the east.
It’s been a few weeks since the start of meteorological summer, and the National Weather Service has already been busy issuing various heat alerts warning of the potential issues that can arise as temperatures soar above 100 degrees across the region from California to Texas.
Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect across five states in the West and include cities like Redding and Chico in California, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona, the Lake Powell area in Utah, and El Paso in Texas.
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"Dangerously hot conditions," the NWS office in Phoenix said. "Afternoon temperatures 107 to 112. Major heat risk. Overexposure can cause heat cramps and heat exhaustion to develop and, without intervention, can lead to heat stroke."
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This comes on the heels of last week's record-breaking heat wave.
On June 6, Las Vegas tied its all-time earliest record of 110 degrees. The next morning, the city set a record-warm low temperature. Bishop, California, also shattered its previous record-warm low temperature by 7 degrees, according to the NWS.
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Both Las Vegas and Phoenix are already struggling to prevent a repeat of the exceptionally deadly summer of 2023. According to the Southern Nevada Health District, heat-related deaths soared to 294 in 2023, a 78% increase from 2022.
Officials found that 645 people died of heat-related illnesses across the Phoenix metro area in 2023. That was over 50% more deaths than the previous year, which set a record for the number of heat deaths.
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FOX Weather is tracking the heat wave, which started in earnest Monday. The hottest day for California was Tuesday.
Arizona's hottest temperatures are forecast on Wednesday and Thursday. Although the state is usually warm this time of year, the NWS said this week's temperatures are "dangerously hot" even for the Valley of the Sun.
The average high for Phoenix is 103 degrees, but Wednesday is forecast to hit 112. Tucson, which is usually around 100 this time of year, heads to 109 degrees.
Temperatures are expected to be at or above 100 degrees in several cities in the West on Thursday.
Las Vegas could top off at 106 degrees, while Phoenix and Las Cruces in New Mexico could approach 110 degrees.
In Texas, both Amarillo and Midland could hit 100 degrees.
Original article source: Sweltering, summerlike heat scorches West as temperatures soar above 100 degrees in Las Vegas, Phoenix
