While the summertime is quite hot across the interior of the western United States in the valleys, basins and deserts, the heat will soon go above and beyond what is typical. AccuWeather meteorologists continue to warn of dangerous heat that will build through at least the first weekend of July over the interior Southwest and into mid-July over the interior West.
"Extreme temperatures will crescendo into the weekend as a northward bulge in the jet stream strengthens over the region," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. "At its peak, afternoon high temperatures will be around 20 degrees above average in the worst-hit areas."
This level of heat will not only challenge daily high-temperature records but will also make a run at some all-time record highs for the month of July and for any time of the year.
"The worst heat will be over the Central Valley of California, as well as the deserts of southeastern California, southwestern Arizona and southern Nevada," Zehr explained, "These places will see highs of 110 or more; the highest temperatures in Death Valley will be near 130 degrees."
The all-time record high for Sacramento, California, is 113 F, set on July 14, 1972. High temperatures are projected to peak within a few degrees of 110 degrees multiple times into this weekend Local conditions on any of those days could allow the all-time record to be matched.
About 155 miles farther to the south, Fresno, California, is in a similar situation where not only will daily record highs be challenged but the all-time record high of 115 degrees set on July 8, 1905, could be rivaled.
Meanwhile, in the gambling capital of the United States, highs within a few degrees of 115 F are forecast this week. However, temperatures may hit the 120-degree mark next week on multiple days, beginning with Sunday. The all-time record high in Las Vegas is 117, reached several times through the summer over the decades.
The warmth will spill into the San Francisco Bay region, but not to the extreme of the interior. Still, highs in the 80s are in store during the pattern into Friday before more of a breeze kicks in from the water this weekend.
High temperatures will run 10-15 degrees above average in the Los Angeles area with daily highs in the 90s from Friday through the weekend. People heading to the Southern California beaches will find high temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s most days.
"In many cases, the worst of the heat will be from Friday to Sunday over the interior Southwest states," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
"Extreme temperatures will crescendo into the weekend as a northward bulge in the jet stream strengthens over the region," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Heather Zehr said. "At its peak, afternoon high temperatures will be around 20 degrees above average in the worst-hit areas."
This level of heat will not only challenge daily high-temperature records but will also make a run at some all-time record highs for the month of July and for any time of the year.
"The worst heat will be over the Central Valley of California, as well as the deserts of southeastern California, southwestern Arizona and southern Nevada," Zehr explained, "These places will see highs of 110 or more; the highest temperatures in Death Valley will be near 130 degrees."
The all-time record high for Sacramento, California, is 113 F, set on July 14, 1972. High temperatures are projected to peak within a few degrees of 110 degrees multiple times into this weekend Local conditions on any of those days could allow the all-time record to be matched.
About 155 miles farther to the south, Fresno, California, is in a similar situation where not only will daily record highs be challenged but the all-time record high of 115 degrees set on July 8, 1905, could be rivaled.
Meanwhile, in the gambling capital of the United States, highs within a few degrees of 115 F are forecast this week. However, temperatures may hit the 120-degree mark next week on multiple days, beginning with Sunday. The all-time record high in Las Vegas is 117, reached several times through the summer over the decades.
The warmth will spill into the San Francisco Bay region, but not to the extreme of the interior. Still, highs in the 80s are in store during the pattern into Friday before more of a breeze kicks in from the water this weekend.
High temperatures will run 10-15 degrees above average in the Los Angeles area with daily highs in the 90s from Friday through the weekend. People heading to the Southern California beaches will find high temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s most days.
"In many cases, the worst of the heat will be from Friday to Sunday over the interior Southwest states," AccuWeather Long-Range Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham said.
