Extreme heat to shift west into mid-July prior to return of annual monsoon
An uptick in heat through midmonth will be followed by humidity as the monsoon kicks in later in July, keeping the risk for wildfires high.
Anna Azallion takes a look at some popular heat-related myths and breaks down whether they’re true or false.
The record-smashing heat dome that has been dominating the weather pattern in the central and eastern United States since late last month will finally relent and shift west through mid-July, say AccuWeather meteorologists.
Along with the pattern change will come an ongoing risk of wildfires due to heat and an expected uptick in monsoon moisture in the Southwest by the second half of July.
"Heat will intensify and expand across the Rockies and Plains through midmonth," said AccuWeather Lead Long Range Forecaster Paul Pastelok. "This will lead to more fires and smoke in the Rockies and High Plains and poor air quality due to less wind flow."
A person walks on sand dunes Sunday, Aug. 3, 2025, in Death Valley National Park, California. (AP Photo/John Locher)
A dramatic temperature turnaround
The month of July started on a very cool note in much of the West with temperatures actually several degrees below historical averages.
In Sacramento, California, temperatures only topped out in the 80s during the first two days of the month, after multiple 100-degree Fahrenheit days in June. A turnaround is expected later this week, when the mercury will end up well above 90.
The heat will be driven by the arrival of a strong area of high pressure, similar to the one that baked the eastern half of the country beginning in late June. It will set up shop first in the Southwest and then expand toward the Plains through midmonth.
While Las Vegas and Phoenix will be near the core of the triple-digit heat through this week and even beyond, the thermometer will be no slouch in places like Denver or Salt Lake City, either, where the 90s are forecast.
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The hotter weather will lead to an uptick in energy use and pose a danger to those spending time outdoors or hiking.
Fire danger to continue, may get worse as monsoon kicks in
Over the last several weeks, multiple large wildfires have burned in the West, especially in the Four Corners region, and as of Saturday morning, well over a dozen were still burning.
AccuWeather meteorologists warn that fire conditions could get worse in the coming days and weeks.
Initially, the hot, dry weather could help maintain fires, but when the North American monsoon kicks in, lightning could start new ones.
The North American monsoon is an annual phenomenon that usually begins in midsummer and leads to increased moisture and, as a result, shower and thunderstorm activity in the Southwest. Sometimes those thunderstorms, especially early on in the season, are accompanied by very little or no rain.
Those dry thunderstorms are very dangerous, especially amid drought conditions, and could ignite additional fires.
In addition, thunderstorms could produce gusty winds, even far from the center of the storm, that may result in dust storms known as "haboobs," which can travel hundreds of miles, reduce visibility and air quality and cause wind damage.
An added consequence of fires is smoke that extends hundreds, if not thousands, of miles from the flames. That smoke, which has already impacted the western and central part of the nation, could result in a hazy sky and even dangerous air quality where it is thickest.
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