The Phoenix National Weather Service has issued a warning for a "dangerous and fatal heat wave" throughout the Southwest through the weekend.
More than 25 million people are under heat advisories, and more than 50 day high temperature records, including in Death Valley, California, one of the hottest places on the planet, might be broken this weekend.
Heat is one of the most dangerous weather risks, so be careful this week, according to the Sacramento National Weather Service.
Heatwave in Arizona
SAKIS MITROLIDIS/AFP via Getty Images
For the next several days, dangerous and perhaps fatal heat will descend over the Southwestern United States, with temperatures in certain areas projected to break records and approach 110 degrees.
The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory for more than 22 million people in California, Nevada, and Arizona for at least part of the weekend, as per The New York Times.
A heat wave is described as a period of particularly hot and humid weather lasting two or more days.
The Phoenix Weather Service issued a warning, but the Sacramento Weather Service stated that the heat will harm everyone, not just the most vulnerable.
San Diego meteorologists encouraged citizens to get familiar with the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
It will be dry and quite hot. The San Diego area was under an extreme heat warning until Sunday night, with temperatures expected to hit 117 degrees.
The Grand Canyon and other sections of central Arizona, including Flagstaff, were anticipated to see similar scorching temperatures.
The temperature in Las Vegas, which is used to scorching heat, might hit 110 degrees.
Death Valley, at the California-Nevada border, is expected to see some of the hottest temperatures.
Las Vegas and Phoenix are experiencing their first heat wave of the year.
This weather pattern will stretch into Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona Thursday and Friday while it continues over Texas into the weekend, as per CNN News.
According to the meteorological service's Phoenix office, the season's first excessive heat event, level 4 of 4 on the experimental heat hazard scale, has arrived.
The first heat wave of the year is threatening daily record highs and record warm lows, according to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.
On Friday, Death Valley is expected to hit 121 degrees. If it occurs, the daily record of 120 set in 1994 will be broken.
The Southwest is still suffering from a severe drought.
Drought and dry soil also have an influence on temperatures, which is one of the numerous disadvantages.
Evaporative cooling and evapotranspiration, two cooling procedures that add moisture to the air and regulate the temperature, do not occur when there is no moisture in the soil or plants.
According to Bryan Jackson of the Weather Prediction Center, the drier the air, the simpler it is to reach a high temperature.
The temperature can be lowered when there is greater humidity.
How terrible can things get?
The heat isn't going anywhere anytime soon. This is the start of what may be a blistering summer.
Except for limited areas in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicted above-normal temperatures over virtually all of the lower 48 states in June, July, and August in a study released last month.
In addition to the high temperatures, the National Weather Service predicted lower-than-normal precipitation in the West, which is still suffering from a severe drought.
