The weekend has kicked off with scorching temperatures as over one-third of US residents are under heat advisories, with more cities expected to experience record-breaking heat in the days ahead.
Las Vegas, known for its hot climate, is forecasted to reach temperatures near 114 degrees on Saturday and even hotter on Sunday, potentially breaking the daily record of 116 degrees.
Currently, nearly 130 million people in 18 states and the District of Columbia are under heat alerts, with meteorologists from the National Weather Service warning that these conditions could be extremely dangerous and even deadly if not taken seriously.
The prolonged heatwave is expected to expand into the Intermountain West and northern High Plains by next week, posing a significant risk to residents in those regions.
Extreme heat is a leading cause of weather-related fatalities in the US, claiming hundreds of lives each year. Tragically, recent incidents have highlighted the deadly consequences of the ongoing heatwave.
In San Jose, California, a homeless man lost his life due to the extreme heat, while a 10-year-old child in Arizona succumbed to a heat-related emergency while hiking with family. Additionally, a 69-year-old hiker from Texas passed away at the Grand Canyon, with heat being cited as a contributing factor.
Health officials are warning of major to extreme heat risks in California and the Southwest this weekend, emphasizing the importance of staying hydrated and cool to mitigate the health impacts of the soaring temperatures.
