A heat wave that kicked off across parts of the Western United States this week is expected to peak on Thursday, with temperatures soaring 10 to 15 degrees above normal in parts of Arizona, California and Nevada.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted that high temperatures in many locations will tie or break records.
Here’s what you should know:
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Nearly 19 million people across Arizona, California and Nevada were under an excessive heat warning Thursday morning. More than 12 million others, including communities in South Texas and along the coast of California, were under a heat advisory.
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Phoenix could break a record on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to reach 114 degrees, topping the record for June 6 of 111 degrees, set in 2016. Similarly, Las Vegas is expected to reach 111 degrees, eclipsing its 2010 record of 110, and Death Valley in California may tie its record of 121 degrees set in 1996.
A closer look at the forecast and its dangers.
Dangerously hot conditions, unusual for early June, are expected to affect cities and towns in eastern California, near the border with Nevada, meteorologists said. The temperature was anticipated to rise to 105 degrees in places like Bishop and Big Pine, where an excessive heat warning was in place until Friday at 9 p.m.
The intense heat will persist across the Death Valley National Park and Las Vegas regions through part of the weekend, with an excessive heat warning ending at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Forecasters said the overnight hours would bring little relief and advised residents to drink plenty of water and stay put in air-conditioned rooms.
Parts of Northern California will also be unable to escape the heat. The Sacramento Valley and surrounding areas were under an excessive heat warning until Thursday evening. Temperatures in Redding, Calif., more than 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, are expected to reach the lower 100s through Friday before falling slightly into the upper 90s over the weekend.
When will the heat end?
With exceptionally high temperatures affecting cities in at least six states in the southwest, million of residents are likely pondering when they will see relief.
Morgan Stessman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, said temperatures across the region will begin cooling down over the next 48 hours and possibly carry over into early next week, but temperatures will still be well above normal for this time of year.
“It’ll start on Friday; temperatures will be a few degrees cooler,” Ms. Stessman said. “In Las Vegas, we’re not looking at temperatures returning to the 90s — we’ll still be in that 100 to 105 degree range as we head into early next week.”
Areas around Death Valley in California will stay above 110 degrees during the “cool down” period, she said.
