Originally Published: 07 JUL 24 00:16 ET
Updated: 07 JUL 24 07:46 ET
By Dalia Faheid and Monica Garrett, CNN
(CNN) — Hundreds of new temperature records could be broken into next week as sweltering heat drags on across the country, impacting millions of Americans in the Western and Eastern US.
Nearly 70 million people are under heat alerts Sunday, after over three dozen high-temperature records were either set or tied on Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.
Highs in the upper 90s to 110s are expected up and down the West Coast and parts of the Great Basin.
“In the West, intense widespread dangerous heat will continue through early next week,” the weather service said. “All-time heat records may be possible in a few locations.”
By Wednesday, over 250 warm high and low temperature records could be set. And nearly 40 million people in the contiguous US are forecast to see temperatures over 100 degrees over the next seven days.
A slew of daily temperature records were broken this Fourth of July weekend. On Saturday, Death Valley reached 128 degrees, breaking the daily record of 127 set on July 6, 2007. Las Vegas reached 115 degrees, tying with records in 2007 and 1989. Kingman, Arizona, reached 109 degrees, breaking the previous record of 108.
In California, Daggett broke its daily temperature record, reaching 117 degrees. Bishop reached 108 degrees, setting another record for the state. Several record highs were also set in the Sacramento area, including in Redding, where it reached 119 degrees and beat the all-time high temperature record of 118, according to the weather service in Sacramento.
Extremely dangerous heat is expected to persist in the West, with excessive heat watches, warnings and heat advisories in effect for much of the region. Heat warnings are active in California and Nevada due to the increased risk of heat-related illnesses there.
“Intense, widespread, and long duration heat building in the West will be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly if not taken seriously,” the weather service said.
An excessive heat warning is in effect until late Wednesday evening for Death Valley, California, where temperatures are expected to be between 122 to 129 degrees. Elsewhere in the state, Owens Valley could reach 111 degrees, and Barstow could reach 118. In Nevada, Las Vegas and Pahrump could also reach 118 degrees.
“Hot temperatures overnight will mean little relief from the daytime heat, especially in Las Vegas and Death Valley, where low temperatures may not fall below 90 degrees for several days,” the National Weather Service said.
Death Valley – the driest national park in the US – could hit a sizzling 130 degrees by Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.
For people without adequate cooling and hydration, the multi-day nature of the heat and record warm overnight temperatures could cause heat stress to build.
Extreme heat is one of the leading weather-related killers in the United States, leaving hundreds of people dead each year, according to the weather service.
Oregon and Washington have both also seen record heat and temperatures are expected …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
