Record Heat Plagues Western United States

Potentially life-threatening temperatures plague Desert Southwest and southern Calif.

Extreme weather rehearsals on the eve of the first calendar day of summer!

Excessive heat warnings, advisories and “Red Flag Warnings” for extreme fire conditions were in effect across southern California, and the Desert Southwest, the National Weather Service (NWS) reported.

In Phoenix, Arizona, the temperature rose to 47.8°C (118°F), breaking the previous record high for the date of 46.1°C set in 1968. In Burbank (LA Suburb), the temperature reached 42.8°C, breaking the previous record high set in 1973 by nearly by 2.8°C.

Dangerous heat in the Desert Southwest and southern Calif.

Record-breaking, dangerous heat will continue on Monday in parts of the southwestern U.S., especially in the deserts where temperatures of 120 degrees will be possible early this week. Excessive Heat Warnings and Heat Advisories are in effect across southern Calif., southern Nevada and southern Arizona. These extreme temperatures can be life-threatening. —NWS

Wildfires

Meanwhile, strong winds and very low humidity continued to fuel multiple wildfires across the region, consuming tens of thousands of hectares, and prompting the federal government to declare two fire assistance emergencies, in addition to local states of emergencies that have already been declared:

• California Border 3 Fire (FM-5128)
• New Mexico Dog Head Fire (FM-5127)