The US south-west continued to bake under a relentless heatwave, with temperatures soaring to 110F (43C) and above from California to Arizona. The seasonal heatwave, which has brought conditions 10 to 15 degrees above normal, is expected to linger until early next week.
Roughly half of Arizona and Nevada remain under an excessive heat alert, with temperatures expected to slowly retreat by the weekend. However, the mercury is predicted to remain above normal throughout the period. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas warned that record high temperatures are likely for some sites through Friday.
In Phoenix, the temperatures reached a new record high of 113F (45C) on Thursday, surpassing the previous mark of 111F (44C) set in 2016. The National Weather Service in Phoenix described the conditions as “dangerously hot”.
At a campaign rally for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, 11 people fell ill from heat exhaustion by late afternoon and were taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released.
In Las Vegas, a record high of 111F (44C) was recorded on Thursday, matching the earliest time of year the temperature reached at least 110F. The Clark county fire department responded to at least 12 calls for heat exposure since midnight on Wednesday, with nine of those cases requiring hospital treatment.
South-West US HeatwaveOther areas of Arizona, California, and Nevada also broke records, including Death Valley national park, which reached a record high of 122F, topping 121F dating back to 1996.
California’s interior continued to face sweltering temperatures into Friday, with Fresno and Redding expecting highs of 103F (39C). In Fresno, officials briefly postponed a graduation ceremony due to the heat risk, and the public health department warned people with health conditions to take precautions.
Advocates warned that unhoused people are particularly vulnerable to the extreme heat and lack of cooling centers. In Chico, a local non-profit was handing out ice and water to people on the street, highlighting the struggles faced by those without access to basic necessities.
The heat has arrived weeks earlier than usual even in areas farther north at higher elevations, including Reno, which recorded a record 98F (37C) on Thursday. The National Weather Service forecast mild cooling this weekend, but temperatures will still remain above normal.
Despite the unseasonable heat, some individuals decided to take advantage of the weather. Oscar Tomasio, visiting from Cleveland, Ohio, proposed to his girlfriend Megan McCracken while hiking to the peak of a trail on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix. The couple, mindful of the heat, started their hike early and took precautions, ultimately enjoying the beautiful views and an unforgettable moment.