Another week of extreme heat will scorch parts of the Southwest this week in a heat dome that will bring triple-digit temperatures to Arizona and Nevada before it moves east.
Eighteen million people in the Southwest and parts of California are under heat alerts through Thursday. During that time, high temperatures 5 to 15 degrees higher than average could lead to some record temperatures through Wednesday.
An excessive heat warning is in effect for metropolitan Phoenix, as well as other parts of south-central and northwest Arizona, from Tuesday through Thursday, when temperatures could reach 111 degrees Fahrenheit or higher.
“As we get to these first couple weeks of June, a lot of places are really starting to see those temperatures escalate,” said Todd Shoemake of the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Arizona, they’re starting to see lots of triple digits.”
Last Thursday, Phoenix hit 110 F for the first time this year, with a record high of 113 F.
Meanwhile, dangerously hot conditions are being forecast for central Las Vegas with highs from 108 F on Tuesday to 111 F on Wednesday.
Las Vegas reached 111 F on Thursday and 110 F on Friday, both records for the dates by 1 degree Fahrenheit.
Monday was the 12th consecutive day of over-100 F temperatures since May 30. So far, Las Vegas is having its hottest start to June on record.
Elsewhere in Nevada, temperatures will hit around 118 F at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park and 108 to 113 in Mesquite, the weather service said.
Albuquerque, where the normal high this time of year is 89 F, tied the record Friday of 100 F set in 1981.
By Thursday and Friday, the widespread heat will expand from the West into parts of the Midwest, the mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. By Friday some record highs are likely across central Virginia and western North Carolina.
The Big Apple may warm up, as well, as New York City could get its first 90-degree day on Friday — which is a little late, as the average first 90-degree day is around May 28.
While some states will bake in the heat this week, others will experience thunderstorms and possible flash flooding.
Florida will be under an increased flood risk from Tuesday to Friday, and some areas could pick up 10 inches of rain.
Tropical moisture will combine with a stalled storm system to create repeated rounds of rain over many of the same areas, threatening Naples, Fort Myers, Key West, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and other cities with flash flood issues. However, the exact location of the axis of heaviest rain was still uncertain Monday morning.
Also Monday, severe storms capable of bringing hail, high winds and a tornado or two are possible for parts of eastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and western Nebraska.
By Wednesday, severe storms will most likely occur over eastern South Dakota, much of Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Minneapolis and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, will need to be on guard for all hazards.
