RENO, Nev. (AP) — The Southwestern United States is currently experiencing the first heat wave of the year, with temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in southeast California and Arizona. The heat wave is forecasted to last at least another day, breaking records across the region.
Despite summer officially starting in two weeks, about half of Arizona and Nevada are under an excessive heat alert, extended by the National Weather Service until Friday evening. Las Vegas, in particular, will have the alert in place until Saturday, experiencing unprecedented early-year high temperatures.
The weather service in Las Vegas predicts temperatures to be 10 to 15 degrees above normal, with record highs expected in some locations through Friday. Although temperatures are expected to gradually decrease over the weekend, they will remain above normal into early next week.
Nine-year-old Eleanor Wallace, visiting Phoenix from northern Utah, described the heat as unbearable while out celebrating her birthday with her mother, Megan Wallace. The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued a warning, calling the conditions “dangerously hot” as temperatures reached a new record high of 113 F (45 C) on Thursday.
Despite the intense heat, there have been no reports of heat-related deaths or serious injuries. However, at a campaign rally for Donald Trump in Phoenix, 11 people suffered from heat exhaustion and were hospitalized, but later released.
Las Vegas also experienced record-breaking temperatures, resulting in multiple calls to the Clark County Fire Department for heat exposure. Other areas in Arizona, California, and Nevada broke records as well, including Death Valley National Park.
The early arrival of the heatwave has affected regions even in higher elevations, such as Reno, where temperatures soared to a record 98 F (37 C). The National Weather Service predicts a slight cooling trend over the weekend, but temperatures will remain high.
Despite the heat, some managed to find joy in the extreme conditions, like Oscar Tomasio who proposed to his girlfriend on Camelback Mountain in Phoenix, or Eleanor Wallace, who still enjoyed her birthday hike despite the heat.
Associated Press writers Anita Snow and Ty O’Neil in Phoenix, and Rio Yamat and Ken Ritter in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
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