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An Impactful Heatwave Continues for Much of the Western U.S.
June 12, 2024
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Mark Paquette
The West continues to Bake as a heatwave continues. A large ridge of high pressure in the atmosphere continues to dominate the weather pattern for the West. Dry days, light winds and plenty of strong, almost summer solstice sunshine will work together to cause the mercury to soar to well above normal levels for a large swath of the Desert Southwest, Great Basin, lower elevations of the Rocky Mountains and the central Plains.
Though it is climatologically normal to be hot across much of this region this time of year, how hot it is and how long it has been and is expected to last is unusual. The hottest areas will be in the Central Valley and the deserts of southeast California as well as the Desert Southwest in portions of Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and Utah today. Thermometers soaring well into the 100s will be numerous with some spots even rising into the 110s, such as in Death Valley and the Phoenix metro area. 80s and 90s for afternoon temperatures will be widespread over a huge swath of the West. The heat will cause readings to get into the upper 90s in the High Plains of Nebraska and Kansas.
Heat Advisories and Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for California’s Central Valley, with Excessive Heat Watches and Warnings also posted for parts of the Desert Southwest. Cities in a heat-related alert include Redding, Sacramento and Modesto, Calif., Las Vegas, Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., Las Cruces, N.M., and El Paso, Texas.
Though these areas are above average, most locations will fall a bit short of record highs for the date. For example, today’s expected high temperature of 105 degrees in El Paso, Texas, won't quite surpass the record high temperature of 109 degrees set in 2021. Modesto, Calif., has a forecast high of 99 degrees today with the record high also being 105 degrees which was last reached in 2019.
Las Vegas would normally break their record for the date except theirs is unusually high for today at 112 degrees set in 1940. Today's forecast high of 109 degrees would have broke or tied seven daily records over the first eleven days of June. Meanwhile, Phoenix will also fall just short of their record high of 113 degrees today (which was set in 2022) with a forecast high of 110 degrees expected.
If you are in one of these areas experiencing unseasonably hot temperatures, it will be important to stay hydrated and cool. Avoid exposure to the sun from late morning into the early evening. Take frequent breaks in the A.C. or shade. Eat and dress lightly. Use sun protection if outdoors. Never leave kids or pets unattended and remember to “Look Before You Lock!” Recognize the signs of heat-related illness.