The heat wave that began this week in the western United States is expected to peak on Thursday, with temperatures expected to soar 10 to 15 degrees above normal in parts of Arizona, California and Nevada.
Forecasters with the National Weather Service predicted high temperatures in many areas would tie or break records.
Here's what you need to know:
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Heat warnings were issued Thursday morning for about 19 million people across Arizona, California and Nevada. An area of more than 12 million people, including coastal areas of southern Texas and California, is under a heat advisory.
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Phoenix could break that record on Thursday. Temperatures are expected to reach 114 degrees, surpassing the record of 111 degrees set on June 6, 2016. Likewise, Las Vegas is expected to reach 111 degrees, surpassing its 2010 record of 110 degrees, and California's Death Valley is also expected to reach 111 degrees. Set at 121 degrees in 1996.
Take a closer look at the forecast and its risks.
Meteorologists say unusually dangerously hot weather is expected to impact cities and towns in eastern California near the Nevada border in early June. Temperatures were expected to rise to 105 degrees in areas such as Bishop and Big Pine, where a heat warning was issued until 9 p.m. Friday.
Extreme heat is expected to persist throughout Death Valley National Park and the Las Vegas area throughout the weekend, with the excessive heat advisory ending at 9 p.m. Saturday. Forecasters said the overnight stay would bring little relief and advised residents to drink plenty of water and stay in air-conditioned rooms.
Parts of Northern California won't be able to escape the heat either. The Sacramento Valley and surrounding areas are under a heat warning until Thursday evening. Temperatures in Redding, California, more than 200 miles northeast of San Francisco, are expected to reach the low 100s through Friday and then fall slightly into the low 90s by the weekend.
When will the heat end?
With exceptionally high temperatures affecting cities in at least six states in the Southwest, millions of residents are likely wondering when they will feel relief.
“Temperatures in the region will begin to cool over the next 48 hours and are likely to continue into early next week, but temperatures will still be well above normal for this time of year,” said Morgan Stethman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas. .
“It will start on Friday. Temperatures will be a few degrees cooler,” Sessman said. “We don't expect temperatures to get back into the 90s in Las Vegas. We'll still be in the 100 to 105 range early next week.”
Areas around Death Valley, California, will remain above 110 degrees during the 'cool down' period, she said.