Early Heat Wave Scorches US Southwest, Setting Record Temperatures

The first heat wave of the season has arrived earlier than usual in the US Southwest, causing dangerously high temperatures. Records could be broken from Las Vegas to Phoenix, with excessive heat warnings in effect. Authorities are alerting the public to stay safe, particularly in fire-prone areas and urging migrants not to cross the border in such heat.

The first heat wave of the season has arrived earlier than expected across much of the US Southwest, with dangerously hot conditions producing triple-digit temperatures on Tuesday.

Forecasters predict that temperatures could exceed 43 degrees Celsius in several regions by Thursday. The National Weather Service reported that by Wednesday, much of the area from southeast California to central Arizona would experience their hottest weather since last September, threatening to break daily high records in cities from Las Vegas to Phoenix.

Excessive heat warnings were issued from Wednesday morning through Friday evening for parts of southeast California, southern Nevada, and Arizona. Marc Chenard, a meteorologist at the Weather Service in College Park, Maryland, noted that temperatures were 10 to 20 degrees above average for this time of year and that the heat is expected to spread northward towards the Pacific Northwest.

Tuesday's highs saw 41 degrees Celsius in Bullhead City, Arizona, and 40 degrees Celsius in Phoenix and Las Vegas. California recorded highs of 44 degrees Celsius at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, 42 degrees Celsius in Needles, and 40 degrees Celsius in Palm Springs. Las Vegas was forecast to potentially hit a new record high of 44 degrees Celsius on Thursday, which would tie the earliest date the temperature reached 43 degrees Celsius, previously set on June 6, 2010.

Forecast highs for Thursday include 48 degrees Celsius at Furnace Creek in Death Valley and 45 degrees Celsius in Phoenix, likely breaking records set in 2016. The intense heat prompted the US Border Patrol to issue a warning after confirming that four migrants had died over the weekend from heat-related causes while attempting to cross into the country near El Paso, Texas. Anthony Good, the agency's El Paso sector chief, cautioned against the extreme heat.

Fire crews are on high alert, especially in Arizona, where fire restrictions took effect before Memorial Day and are expected to extend across much of the state by Thursday. Tiffany Davila, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management, noted the unusual early onset of such high temperatures.

Efforts are underway to safeguard the communities, especially vulnerable populations like homeless people. Phoenix and Maricopa County officials are dedicating more resources to cooling stations and ensuring access to water, shade, and air conditioning.

John Giles, Mayor of Mesa, pledged to provide essential life-saving services such as hydration and cooling stations to those most at risk of heat exposure.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)