NEW YORK, June 06 (BBC): More than 34 million Americans are preparing for extreme temperatures, as a heat dome descends on the western part of the US this week.
Forecasters are warning residents in California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona to prepare for temperatures to reach around 40C (104F) before Friday. Later in the week, extreme temperatures are expected to reach parts of the Pacific Northwest.
Similar temperatures last year killed at least a dozen people in the American Southwest. The US Border Patrol in Texas says four migrants attempting to enter the US died over the weekend due to heat-related illnesses.
Forecasts show temperatures could reach 42.2C (108F) across a wide swathe of California, from Sacramento to Bakersfield. Sacramento surpassed 38C (100F) on Tuesday. Last year, California's capital city did not get that hot until the end of June.
On Wednesday that warning will expand further east from Las Vegas to the Lake Havasu City, Arizona, region. Some areas of south Texas saw temperatures reach 47.2C (117F) Tuesday. Thursday is expected to be the worst day this week for excessive heat.
Forecasters expect temperatures to be 5.5-11C (10-20F) above normal. Phoenix, Las Vegas, Albuquerque and Fresno could see previous records for high temperatures squashed.
Western US to face extreme heat this week
FE Team | Published: June 05, 2024 21:23:20
Western US to face extreme heat this week
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