Southwest is warned to brace for 130F weather as blistering month-long heat wave intensifies, with 113M Americans now under heat alerts, as playgrounds in baking Phoenix lie empty
The southwest is dealing with a dangerous heat wave that could bring temperatures as high as 130 degrees in the desert, as 113 million Americans currently live under heat warnings.
Blistering conditions will build Friday and throughout the weekend in the central and southern parts of the state, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned.
Known as a 'heat dome' to meteorologists, the phenomenon is now set to persist through much of the month - scorching metros in Arizona, Nevada, and California in the process.
Midday highs were mostly expected to be above 100 degrees, and desert areas like California’s Death Valley could reach a scorching 130 by Sunday, forecasters said.
Photos showed empty, baking playgrounds in Arizona with 108 degree temperatures keeping kids inside, as well as people going to desperate lengths to remain cool while outdoors in Los Angeles.
Across southern California, public libraries, senior centers and police department lobbies were being prepared to open as cooling centers while the heat worsened, especially in the desert areas where temperatures were expected to soar well past triple digits.
Little relief is expected overnight, when temperatures could remain in the 80s. Excessive heat warnings and watches were posted or set to take effect for much of the state through the weekend.
In the Southern California city of Palm Springs, John Summers, who is homeless, climbed through a dry riverbed Thursday to seek shade at a homeless encampment. The high was expected to near 110 degrees.
'I just use water,' Summers said. 'You know, I basically just use water as much as I can. And hit shade. And you know the mall, wherever they´ll let you in.'
Palm Springs has just 20 indoor beds at its sole overnight shelter, leaving everyone else to tolerate the heat as best they can.
Across the U.S., more than 113 million people were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings, mostly in the Southwest, the National Weather Service reported Wednesday.