Life-threatening heat wave to retain its grip on southwestern US into the weekend

The most extreme heat wave in recent years will remain at dangerous levels into the weekend.

The heat cranked up to full force on Monday and Tuesday, with record highs shattered, flights canceled and energy consumption pushed to high demand.

Temperatures at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix soared to 119 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday, a level which has not been achieved since June 29, 2013. Las Vegas soared to 117 F which tied their all-time record high for any date.

In many areas, temperatures backed down a few degrees from their extreme levels during Wednesday and Thursday. However, most interior areas of the Southwest remained dangerously hot and will remain at that level through this weekend.

Despite the slight dip, temperatures are projected to stay 10 to 15 degrees above normal, both during the day and at night.

Highs will hover in the 100s over California’s Central Valley and the 110s in southeastern California, southern Nevada and central and southern Arizona through Saturday.

"Some desert locations could still top 120," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Ken Clark.

The heat will also begin to surge northward into the Pacific Northwest through the weekend and into early next week.

Seattle will likely reach the lower 90s on Sunday, compared to a typical late-June high in the lower 70s. Portland will flirt with the 100-degree mark with highs coming close to 110 in Medford, Oregon.

It will take until early next week for the heat to fully throttle back in the Northwest. Temperatures in the Southwestern states will begin to trend toward more seasonable levels during the middle and latter part of next week.

Flight cancellations may lessen given that temperatures will be trending away from critical levels. However, weight restrictions could still be implemented.

Residents and visitors will need to continue to use extreme caution when outdoors to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Use caution when coming in contact with car interiors that could be hot enough to burn skin.

Never leave pets or children in a closed and locked vehicle, and avoid walking dogs beyond the middle of the day as paved surfaces will become hot enough to cause paw burns. The best time to walk pets will be in the early morning hours.

The intense heat combined with low humidity and drying vegetation will result in an increasing threat for wildfires.

Use extreme caution when working with outdoor power equipment, grills and campfires. Never park a vehicle over brush as the hot exhaust system can ignite a blaze.

A wildfire broke out and rapidly expanded in southern Utah this week. The person that accidentally started the blaze could face charges, according to ABC News.

There is little hope of rainfall in the coming days.

The Southwest summer monsoon is not expected to arrive early and suppress the heat.

“There is no sign of the monsoon kicking in yet, and it is a little early for that on average,” Clark said. “As a result, thunderstorms will be very spotty at best as humidity levels remain very low.”

On average, the increase in clouds and thunderstorms associated with the Southwest monsoon does not occur until the end of June or early July.

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