() — More than 85 million people remained under heat alerts Saturday as the week-long heat wave continued and intensified in the Southwest.
Dangerously high temperatures will continue to plague the western United States throughout the weekend, with temperatures increasing in the South early next week.
“Daytime highs will routinely range above normal, equating to daytime temperatures approaching the century mark in the interior Northwest, between 37-43°C in central and southern California, and 46-48 °C in the high desert of southern California, southern Nevada, and Arizona,” according to the Weather Prediction Center.
More than 100 temperature records are possible through Monday in the west and south.
Death Valley, California could exceed 54 degrees this Sunday. That has happened just five times in more than 110 years of record.
Phoenix temperatures have hit 37 degrees on consecutive days, and the streak should continue through at least this Wednesday.
Meanwhile, muggy conditions will persist across the south-central US and southern Florida. Daytime highs in the 32’s and low 37’s with oppressive humidity levels will allow heat indices to frequently range between 40-42 each afternoon.
A heat advisory is in effect from Texas to Alabama, but does not include Georgia or most of Florida. The high in Houston is forecast to be 37 degrees this Saturday. It could go as high as 35 in New Orleans and Jackson, Mississippi. Atlanta is expected to hit only a relatively light 33.
And smoke from the Canadian wildfires will move into the Northern Plains and Midwest over the weekend and into early next week.
Arizona and Texas endure weeks-long heat spells
Warnings for dangerous levels of heat have been posted in areas of Arizona and Texas for more than 30 days in a row, as a long-lasting heat wave has settled in parts of the west and south since mid-June.
Temperatures have not dipped below 90 degrees in the Phoenix area since Monday, a trend that could be deadly for those without air conditioning if they can’t cool off and recover overnight.
In Texas, El Paso broke its own record for streak of high temperatures on Thursday after experiencing 28 consecutive days above 37 degrees, the weather service tweeted.
That streak is likely to extend well beyond 30 days, as El Paso is expected to experience temperatures of at least 39 degrees through the middle of next week.
Elsewhere, much of the eastern half of Texas experienced heat indices (what humidity and temperature feels like combined) between 43 and 46 degrees on Thursday.
Widespread temperatures of 37 to 42 were seen Thursday across much of the state, including temperatures of 141 in Austin and Del Rio. The north Texas city of Wichita Falls broke a daily record of 43 degrees with a heat index of up to 47 degrees.
The dangers of brutally high heat
As the climate crisis drives temperatures ever higher, scientists have warned that there is a growing probability that 2023 will be the hottest year on record on Earth.
Heat kills more Americans than any other form of severe weather, including floods, hurricanes or extreme cold, according to data from the National Weather Service.
Communities around the world are already feeling the devastation of these extreme temperatures, including a Texas county that reported at least 11 heat-related deaths during last month’s heat wave. In Mexico, at least 112 people have died from exposure to extreme heat since March.
As our bodies try to regulate their own temperature, extreme heat can make it harder for the body to cool down, and added humidity can make that fight worse.
When the body becomes unable to cool itself, illnesses such as heat exhaustion or heat stroke can develop, which can be fatal.
The risks of heat exposure are particularly high for the homeless, outdoor workers, low-income families, communities of color, and the elderly.
To stay safe in sweltering temperatures, experts recommend hydrating regularly, finding a cool or air-conditioned place to stay, and avoiding outdoor activities, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
People should also watch for signs of heat exhaustion or other illnesses, including dizziness, nausea, headache, or confusion.
‘s Taylor Ward, Elizabeth Wolfe and Christina Maxouris contributed to this report.
