Phoenix.- An extreme heat wave spread Sunday across Arizona, New Mexico and parts of Texas, Colorado and Kansas. While in the northwest of the country, unusual cold was recorded for this time of year, with snowfall forecast in the northern Rocky Mountains and intense rain from the northern plains to the north-central region.
The National Weather Service estimated that more than 63 million people are under extreme heat advisories, from the Southwest north to Denver and Chicago.
The temperature in Phoenix reached 44.4 degrees Celsius on Saturday and was expected to be close to that record again today. Forecasters said the city has already reached an average temperature 5.6 Fahrenheit higher than usual for the first two weeks of June, which would mark the warmest start to a June on record.
“We’ve already seen some significantly elevated temperatures in our area,” said Ted Whittock of the National Weather Service in Phoenix.
“We recommend that everyone reduce the time they spend outdoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., stay hydrated and wear light, loose-fitting clothing.”
Whittock said the heat in the Phoenix metro area will ease a bit between Monday and Wednesday. High temperatures will return as the week progresses, likely triggering new extreme heat warnings.
High temperatures have been particularly dangerous in recent years in metropolitan Phoenix, where 645 people died from heat-related causes in 2023, a record.
The city and Maricopa County have taken additional measures this year in hopes of keeping people safe, including two air-conditioned centers where people can rest after the sun sets and spend the night.
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