CNN
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Hundreds of new temperature records could be broken in the coming week as sweltering heat continues across the country, hitting millions of Americans in the western and eastern United States.
Many temperature records are expected to be reached or broken in the coming days, including some potential all-time records. Highs in the 35-40s are expected across the entire West Coast and in parts of the Great Basin.
“In the West, intense, widespread and dangerous heat will continue into early next week,” the National Weather Service said. “Record heat records may be possible in some locations.”
By Wednesday, over 250 record highs and lows could be reached.
Heat warnings have been issued for nearly 100 million people in more than a dozen states, and nearly 40 million people in the contiguous United States are forecast to experience temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) over the next seven days.
A number of temperature records were broken this Fourth of July weekend. On Saturday, Death Valley reached 128 degrees, beating the daily record of 127 degrees set on July 6, 2007. Las Vegas reached 115 degrees, tying the records set in 2007 and 1989. Kingman, Arizona, reached 109 degrees, beating the previous record of 108 degrees.
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 reached in the Sacramento area, including in Redding, where it reached 119 degrees, surpassing the all-time temperature record of 118 degrees, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.
Extremely dangerous heat is expected in the West, with heat advisories and warnings in effect for much of the region. Heat advisories are in effect in California and Nevada as the risk of heat-related illness increases there.
“Intense, widespread and prolonged heat in the West will be extremely dangerous and potentially deadly if not taken seriously,” the National Weather Service said.
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A heat warning is in effect for Death Valley in California until Wednesday evening. Temperatures are expected to reach between 49 and 52 degrees. In other parts of the state, temperatures could reach 44 degrees in Owens Valley and 47 degrees in Barstow. In Nevada, Las Vegas and Pahrump could also reach 47 degrees.
“Hot overnight temperatures will provide little relief from the daytime heat, especially in Las Vegas and Death Valley, where lows may not fall below 90 degrees for several days,” the National Weather Service said.
According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, temperatures in Death Valley, the driest national park in the USA, could reach up to 54.4 degrees Celsius by Tuesday.
For people without adequate cooling and hydration, the heat lasting several days and the record high night temperatures can lead to heat stress.
Extreme heat is one of the leading causes of weather-related deaths in the United States, claiming hundreds of lives each year, according to the Weather Service.
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Record heat was also recorded in Oregon and Washington, and temperatures are expected to remain above triple digits through early next week.
“More record-breaking temperatures are expected in the coming days, as temperatures in the inland valleys are expected to rise above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) daily through Tuesday, July 9,” the National Weather Service in Portland said.
Meanwhile, heat and humidity in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast are expected to gradually ease over the next week, lingering longest along the Gulf Coast and the Carolinas, the weather service said. Heat index readings, which topped out at 110 degrees in the Mid-Atlantic region on Saturday, will drop to nearly 100 degrees on Sunday. Heat warnings currently extend from northern New York state across the East Coast to coastal Alabama.
In the West, the heat wave is expected to spread into the Great Basin and eventually the northern high plains by next week, and will likely last until mid-July, according to the weather service.
Jenny Kane/AP
Sherri Thompson arrives at the Cook Plaza cooling center in Gresham, Oregon on Friday with her 14-year-old Chihuahua, Kiwahi.
Intense heat coupled with dry winds poses a critical wildfire threat in parts of the upper Great Basin toward the Four Corners for the remainder of the weekend. Parts of southern Idaho and southern Utah are particularly at risk.
Scorching heat on the West Coast could continue to spark large wildfires in California. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, more than 3,000 wildfires have burned over 150,000 acres of land across the state in 2024.
The Basin Fire, the largest active wildfire in the state, burned more than 14,000 acres in Fresno County and was 60% contained as of Saturday evening, according to Cal Fire.
Another major wildfire, the Lake Fire, broke out in Santa Barbara County on Friday afternoon and has already consumed over 12,000 acres of land. The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office issued evacuation warnings for surrounding areas and several roads were closed.
The Thompson Fire, for which California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, was 79 percent contained as of Saturday evening. Since it broke out on Tuesday, it has destroyed nearly 4,000 acres of land in Butte County. According to Cal Fire, two firefighters were injured, 26 buildings were destroyed and eight were damaged.
“Dangerously hot and dry conditions prevailed throughout the operation,” Cal Fire said.
The French Fire in Mariposa County was 35% contained and had burned over 900 acres of land after it broke out on July 4. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued due to the fire, four firefighters were injured and four structures were destroyed, according to Cal Fire. Meanwhile, the McCain Fire in San Diego County had burned about 1,500 acres of land and was 95% contained.
