The weeklong heat wave that baked most of the U.S. Southwest in temperatures well into triple digits is on its last legs, but forecasters are still urging people to be cautious as there will be little relief from the warm weather until monsoon thunderstorms begin to kick in, likely in July.
A slight easing of temperatures is expected through the weekend, with Phoenix and Las Vegas falling short of besting any new records. Still, an excessive heat warning continues through Saturday in Las Vegas, where it’s never been hotter this time of year. It was a record-high 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas on Friday, 113 F in Phoenix and 100 F in Albuquerque.
Forecasters also issued heat advisories in far West Texas and along the U.S.-Mexico border, but they noted that the highs would be a bit cooler than the past couple days.
The heat arrived weeks earlier than usual even in places at higher elevations — areas typically a dozen degrees cooler.
John Adair, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, said it's not unusual for parts of the Southwest to heat up pretty quickly, especially in the second half of June.
“So this is a hot time of year before we start to get some moisture and cloud cover from the monsoon thunderstorms that come around,” he said. “Even for next weekend, we're forecast to hover around 105, 106, which is just slightly above normal at that point.”
In the Southwest, monsoon thunderstorms typically ramp up during the first week in July.
Temperatures this weekend will trend downward before warming back up again early next week. If you have outdoor plans this weekend, be sure to stay cool and hydrated! #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/tEDEXVkW7v
— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) June 8, 2024
There have been no reports of any heat-related deaths or serious injuries in the region, but a 68-year-old man was hospitalized in stable condition in Phoenix on Friday after he was overcome with heat exhaustion while hiking on a mountain trail and rescued by fire crews.
In Nevada, the Clark County Fire Department reported Friday that it logged 20 calls classified as heat exposure over a three-day period, with 12 of those resulting in trips to local hospitals. Eight of the calls came on Friday.
Cooling centers, including community centers and libraries, remained open Saturday for people looking for relief from the heat, the fire department said.
With heat records already being broken in May and June, this year could end up being more deadly than last when it comes to heat-related deaths. The death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records, according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
Metro Phoenix forecast from National Weather Service
Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 108 and low of 81.
Sunday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 105 and a low around 79.
Monday: Sunny, with a high near 104 and with a low around 79.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 109 and a low around 81.
Wednesday: Sunny, with a high near 110 and a low around 82.
Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 110 and a low around 80.