As temperatures soared past 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) in some areas of the U.S. Southwest, records were shattered on Thursday. The region is currently in the midst of its first heat wave of the year, with no relief in sight for at least another day.
Despite the official start of summer still being two weeks away, approximately half of Arizona, California, and Nevada are under an excessive heat alert, which has been extended until Friday evening by the National Weather Service.
In Phoenix, at a campaign rally for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, 11 individuals suffered from heat exhaustion and were hospitalized. The weather service in Phoenix has described the current conditions as 'dangerously hot.'
In Las Vegas, the Clark County Fire Department has responded to at least 12 calls for heat exposure since midnight Wednesday, with nine patients requiring hospital treatment. The actual number of cases related to the heat may be higher, as it can contribute to various other emergency situations.
Thursday saw new record highs being set, with Phoenix reaching 113 F (45 C) and Las Vegas hitting 111 F (44 C). Other areas in Arizona, California, and Nevada also experienced record-breaking temperatures.
Even regions at higher elevations, which are typically cooler, have been impacted by the early arrival of the heat wave. Reno, Nevada, saw its normal high of 81 F (27 C) skyrocket to a record-breaking 98 F (37 C) on Thursday.
The National Weather Service in Reno has forecasted a slight cooling trend over the weekend, although temperatures are expected to remain in the triple digits in central and southern Arizona, reaching up to 110 F (43 C).
As the heat wave continues to grip the Southwest, residents are urged to take precautions to stay safe and cool during this extreme weather event.
