An oppressive heatwave across much of the western United States Cities and their residents were sweltered this weekend in conditions normally more common at the height of summer.
Blisters heat wavewhich persisted all week throughout California and the desert southwest, will continue to develop and spread eastward into the central United States in the coming days. Temperatures 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit above average for this time of year will be common from the Southwest to the Great Plains. according to the National Weather Service.
More than 150 daily temperature records and around fifty absolute monthly records have already been broken since Tuesday, the weather service saidand more are expected to drop this weekend and in the coming days.
Parts of California were well above seasonal averages heading into the weekend, with Death Valley hitting a scorching 105 degrees on Thursday, a new monthly record. Highs there should remain well into triple digits until next week, according to the National Weather Service.
Southern Nevada was also dealing with summer-like conditions this weekend. Las Vegas reached 96 degrees on Saturday and is expected to reach 93 degrees on Sunday. More than 40 daytime cooling stations have been opened across the city to help residents cope with the heat.
“While Southern Nevada is no stranger to extreme heat, we are facing an unprecedented heat wave just months before the summer season,” said Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick. said Wednesday in a statement. “Our bodies are not yet acclimated to these temperatures, putting people at increased risk of heat-related illnesses.”
The National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office urged people to take proper precautions to avoid heat-related illness.
“If you spend time outdoors, remember to wear sunscreen, eat light meals, and avoid caffeine and alcohol,” the weather service says. said the.
In Colorado, Fort Collins reached an incredible 91 degrees on Saturday, a new all-time high for the month of March since city record-keeping began in 1893. The 91-degree mark also exceeded the hottest April temperature recorded in Fort Collins by 2 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
“The city had not recorded a March maximum temperature above 81F until 2026,” the NWS Boulder office said. said Sunday X.
Denver, meanwhile, reached 86 degrees on Saturday, also setting a new record for the month of March. Colorado’s heat, low humidity and blustery winds increase the risk of wildfires across the state.
This week’s historic heatwave was caused by a heating dome, a stubborn ridge of high pressure that trapped warm air over a vast swath of the western United States like a lid on a pot.
It can be difficult to determine the exact influence of climate change on specific extreme weather events, but We know that global warming makes heat waves more frequentmore intense and more lasting.
A new report from the World Weather Attribution groupwhich analyzes the influence of climate change on extreme events, said Friday that this March heatwave “would have been virtually impossible without human-induced climate change.”
In Phoenix, where temperatures reached 105 degrees Friday and Saturday — records for all of March — several popular hiking trails were closed during the day. The closures occurred months before these types of heat protection measures would normally go into effect.
THE Phoenix Trail Thermal Safety Programwhich was created in 2021, restricts access to trails in and around the city when extreme heat warnings from the National Weather Service are in effect. This weekend, trails at Camelback Mountain Preserve, Phoenix Mountains Preserve, and South Mountain Park and Preserve will be restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time.
An extreme heat warning remains in effect for the region until Sunday. The public health department in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, asked people to stay indoors with air conditioning as much as possible in the coming days.
“Remember to drink your water, limit outdoor activities during periods of high heat, and check to see if your loved ones are at risk,” public health officials said. wrote in a message on Facebook.
A number of outdoor events in the Phoenix area have had to make adjustments due to the extreme heat. For example, at least 10 Major League Baseball spring training games have moved their start times from the afternoon to after 6 p.m. local time in order to escape the worst of triple-digit temperatures, the Cactus League. said in a statement.
In Glendale, Arizona, local firefighters said they transported about 30 people to area hospitals Saturday for heat-related illnesses. Luke Days Air Show.
“In addition to these transports, Glendale Fire Department personnel, along with our public safety partners, evaluated and treated a number of other participants on scene who were exhibiting heat-related symptoms,” a fire department spokesperson told NBC News in an email.
The National Weather Service said temperatures on Sunday were expected to be in the 90s and 100s in the Southwest and in the 80s in parts of Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. Across the Great Plains, highs will range from the 70s to 90s.