Post by Atticus Pizzaballa on Jun 5, 2024 8:14:34 GMT -5
Scorching heat wave set to smash records across U.S. Southwest
Forecast highs valid through Thursday from NOAA, with predicted records shaded in boxes. Image: Weatherbell.com
The hottest temperatures to hit the U.S. West this year were building across California and the Southwest Tuesday into Wednesday — and they're expected to bring record temperatures to much of the region before expanding eastwards this week.
The big picture: Excessive heat warnings and watches extended from the central valley down through southern California's deserts, southern Nevada and southern and western Arizona, affecting over 27 million people on Wednesday morning. New temperature records have already been set in Texas, per preliminary National Weather Service data.
This shows Abilene reached a high of 106°F and San Angelo hit 111°F on Tuesday. "For San Angelo, this does tie the 5th hottest temperatures recorded here," the local NWS office noted. "The 4 hotter days all occurred in June of last year."
Heat risk during the days-long U.S. heat wave was expected to peak over California's central valley on Wednesday before expanding into the desert Southwest later this week, according to an NWS forecast discussion.
Why it matters: Extreme heat ranks as the nation's top weather-related killer annually, per the NWS. U.S. Border Patrol El Paso, Texas, sector chief Anthony Good noted in a post to X that the extreme heat had killed four migrants trying to cross the border from Mexico over the weekend.
Threat level: There's a "good chance" the temperature in Las Vegas, Nevada, will top 112°F on Thursday, which the NWS said would be the city's earliest observed 112°F on record.
Phoenix, Arizona, reached an above-average June temperature high of 104°F on Tuesday, and the NWS warns it could see records set this week. Local officials announced Tuesday evening that Camelback Mountain and key trails would close Wednesday through Friday as a precaution.
Widespread temperature records are expected to be tied or broken elsewhere across much of the region.
"Little overnight relief will make for dangerous conditions for those without effective cooling and/or adequate hydration," the NWS said.
"Meanwhile, Heat Risk over southern Texas peaks today but is expected to persist for the next few days."
www.axios.com/2024/06/05/southwest-us-heatwave-california-vegas-arizona
continue to read story. Burn baby burn and maybe it will comes here.