Deadly Southwest heat wave will steam into next week
Desert dwellers see record temps tied
The deadly heat wave that has scorched the Desert Southwest and California the past few days will continue into early next week, meteorologists said.
Excessive heat warnings will remain in effect through Monday for much of the region, according to the National Weather Service.
The heat has been blamed for four deaths in Nevada, two deaths in New Mexico and one in California.
This week, during the USA’s most extreme heat wave in years, Las Vegas tied its record high temperature of 117 degrees Tuesday.
Needles, Calif., home to Snoopy’s brother Spike, also tied its all- time high of 125 degrees.
Tucson sweltered to its hottest threeday stretch ever. Wednesday’s 115- degree high was the third consecutive day the city reached that measurement.
In Tucson, meteorologist Eric Holthaus said, “It feels like another planet.”
Searing temperatures are a factor in several wildfires burning across the Southwest, including one in Utah that forced the evacuation of hundreds of people and shut down part of a state highway, the Associated Press reported.
The heat is due to a massive ridge of high pressure, which weather service meteorologist Dan Gregoria described as a “hot dome of air.”
About 50 people received elastic booties for their pets at a Phoenix- area PetSmart to keep the animals’ paws from burning on the pavement, the Weather Channel reported.
The Ginger Monkey, a tavern in Chandler, Ariz., offered drinks for 10 cents on days the temperature hits 110 degrees. “We decided to fight fire with fire … an extreme deal for this extreme heat,” coowner Jackson Armstrong said.
Near- normal temperatures are forecast to finally return by the middle of next week, the weather service said.
For example, the high next Wednesday in Death Valley should be down to 117 degrees after highs in the mid- 120s this week.