As New Yorkers prepare for a temporary respite from intense heat and humidity, record-shattering temperatures are set to grip the West Coast, challenging records across several states. AccuWeather forecaster Alex DaSilva explained that while New York will experience temperatures slightly above average over the next few days, it is nothing compared to the sweltering heat out west.
On Friday, Palm Springs, California broke its record high temperature of 123 degrees by one degree, and Death Valley shattered the previous high for the day by five degrees, with temperatures soaring to 127. The National Weather Service warned that these extreme conditions could be deadly if not taken seriously.
Over the coming week, Las Vegas may tie or break its all-time heat record of 117 degrees for six consecutive days, as meteorologist Cody Braud explained that the city is flirting with breaking all-time high records daily until Friday. The heat will extend beyond Vegas, with Seattle set to experience record-challenging temperatures during the early part of the week. The heat in western Washington could be hazardous, especially for those without air conditioning.
Temperature records are expected to be surpassed across portions of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah, Oregon, Washington, and even Idaho, with some Desert Southwest locations reaching above 115 degrees according to meteorologists. Death Valley in California, which holds the record for the highest temperature ever recorded at 134.1 degrees in 1913, is predicted to have temperatures hovering near 130 degrees from Sunday through Wednesday, as per National Weather Service forecasts. The regional NWS office in Las Vegas emphasized that while the Mojave Desert can be hot, this heat will be record-breaking.
The heat dome will begin to dissipate by the end of the week but is expected to move eastwards. In the meantime, New Yorkers can look forward to temperatures in the mid-to-low 80s with occasional rain breaking through the humidity.
