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An extreme and prolonged heat wave will challenge several records next weekend in the American Southwest.

A massive dome of high pressure is building over the southwestern United States. The system will amplify the heat wave as it builds into the weekend. 

Numerous all-time hot temperature records look likely to be challenged or broken across the region this weekend. 

Phoenix already set a daily high minimum temperature record Wednesday. The lowest temperature in Phoenix Wednesday morning was 94 degrees. 

Wednesday was the 13th straight day at or above 110 degrees in Phoenix. The record is 19 days. That record looks likely to be broken next week. 

 is 117 degrees set in July 2021. The current 

forecast from the Las Vegas National Weather Service office

hottest temperature ever reliably recorded on earth

 happened in Death Valley, Calif., on July 9, 2021. The temperature reached 130 degrees that day. (A temperature of 134 degrees was recorded in Death Valley in 1913, but that is not considered reliable by many climate experts.)

The current forecast for Furnace Creek in Death Valley for Sunday and Monday is 129 degrees. The valley floor near Badwater Basin could be even hotter. The current forecast there from the Las Vegas NWS office is 131 degrees. 

So both the intensity and duration of the extreme heat wave in the Southwest U.S. may be setting some all-time records in the next week.

Weather and Climate News

Updraft® - Minnesota Weather News

Paul Huttner

Author

An intense and prolonged heat wave is gripping the American Southwest. 

Extreme heat wave challenging numerous records in the Southwest U.S.

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