Dangerous heat to scorch southwestern US through midweek

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

June 18,2017, 12:08:18PM,EDT

 

 The dangerous heat baking the southwestern United States will not relent its grip on the region through much of the week.

This heat wave will challenge all-time records.
“Surface temperatures will reach into the 110s F and even 120s F in some places across the region,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Jordan Root said.

The high in Phoenix will reach near or hit the 120-degree Fahrenheit mark on Tuesday and/or Wednesday. The city typically experiences a high in the middle to upper 100s during the last half of June.
“The highest temperature for any date at Phoenix is 122 set on June 26, 1990,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
Highs in the 100s will scorch the spine of California’s Central Valley. Even locations as far north as Salt Lake City will approach the century mark by midweek.
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Intense June sunshine, light winds and the extreme temperatures can be a lethal combination, according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
Residents who are accustomed to this type of heat should still take necessary precautions due to the severity of the conditions.
Avoid being outside during the heat of the day. If you must be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

Those with respiratory issues should avoid going outside due to poor air quality during the heat wave. Never leave pets or children in a closed up vehicle.
Relief from the heat will be hard to come by even after the sun sets. In Phoenix and Las Vegas, overnight lows will barely dip below 90 through midweek.
Those looking for a more significant reprieve from the heat will need to head to the cooler beaches of Southern California. Temperatures will be up to 30 degrees lower at the coast compared to inland areas.
Unseasonably hot air will likely remain entrenched over the region through the end of the week.