2023-07-17 07:00:00
PlayHot temperatures will grip areas from the West to parts of the South into next week.Numerous daily record highs will be set.A hot dome of high pressure is the culprit for this heat wave.
A dangerous heat wave in the West and parts of the South will threaten records into next week as a heat dome intensifies and remains parked over those regions. Sunday is expected to be the hottest day in years in some spots.
Here’s a look at current temperatures:
Heat alerts are in effect for millions of people. The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for more than a dozen states in the West and South. That means outdoor activities should be limited in these areas either right now or in the coming days because of the possibility of heat-related illnesses.
Here’s how hot it will be into early next week. Triple-digit temperatures will be a fixture from much of Texas into the Southwest and California (except near the coast and in the mountains). Parts of the Desert Southwest will easily be in the 110s, even 120s in spots.
Phoenix hit 118 degrees on Saturday, breaking its daily record high for the date.
Morning lows won’t offer much relief. Phoenix might see its low temperature only bottom out in the lower or mid-90s on multiple mornings over the coming days. A few spots may linger near 100 degrees through the night.
(MORE: Why Heat Waves Are A Danger At Night)
The dome of high pressure will shift eastward across the nation’s southern tier through the middle part of the week. That means many other parts of the South will see increasingly hot temperatures.
Daily records from Tuesday on are most likely from New Mexico to Louisiana, and also in Florida. Albuquerque, New Mexico; Lubbock, San Antonio, Austin and Lardo, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Tampa, Florida might all hit daily record highs.
Record-breaking temperatures expected. Numerous daily records will be threatened, but some all-time record heat is within reach.
Through Monday, daily record highs will be most numerous from inland parts of California into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and western Colorado. Parts of southern and central Texas will also approach daily record highs into the early portion of next week.
Here are some additional heat notables that might be approached.
-Las Vegas: The city’s official all-time record of 117 degrees might be approached or tied Sunday. Unofficial records indicate the city might have been as hot as 118 degrees on July 26, 1931, according to weather historian Chris Burt.
-Death Valley: Highs in the mid to upper 120s are likely.
(MORE: Why Death Valley’s Heat Is So Extreme)
-Reno, Nevada; Fresno, California; and Salt Lake City: All of those cities might come within a few degrees of their all-time record highs of 108 degrees, 115 degrees and 107 degrees, respectively, Sunday into Monday.
How a heat dome contributes to extreme temperatures. A strong area of high pressure in the upper atmosphere is the main culprit in this heat wave. The high causes air to sink toward the ground, which compresses the air and makes it even warmer.
The heat dome in this case is also delaying the Southwest monsoon from really getting going by blocking most moisture from pushing into the region from Mexico or the nearby eastern Pacific waters. When monsoonal moisture is present in the air it can keep extreme heat at bay, though makes it feel more humid and uncomfortable.
Here’s how to stay safe. The hot conditions will be particularly dangerous for vulnerable groups, such as the sick and the elderly. The NWS has useful heat safety tips that can be incorporated into a daily routine when extreme heat sets in.
-Job sites: Stay hydrated and take breaks inside as often as possible. Remember that in temperatures above 110 degrees, you will not know that you are sweating.
-Indoors: Check up on the elderly, sick and those without air conditioning.
-In vehicles: Never leave children or pets unattended – look before you lock.
-Outdoors: Limit strenuous activities and find shade. Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol.
(MORE: 4 Things Extreme Heat Can Do To Your Body)
Chris Dolce has been a senior meteorologist with weather.com for over 10 years following beginning his career with The Weather Channel in the early 2000s.
The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.
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