Heatwave to Continue this Weekend Across the Southwest | WeatherBug
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Heatwave to Continue this Weekend Across the Southwest

May 30, 2020
UPDATED By WeatherBug Meteorologists
While the Golden State and the Great Basin will finally get a break from the recent heat wave, the same luck won’t extend to residents of the Desert Southwest this weekend.

Thanks to strong ridging from a high pressure system that stalled over the West during the Memorial Day holiday, temperatures have soared into the upper 90s and triple digits across the much of the Southwest and California last week. While more seasonable late-May highs return to the Golden State and the Great Basin, the same will not happen for the Desert Southwest this weekend .

Excessive Heat Warnings have been posted across southern Arizona with highs soaring to near 110 degrees. Cities like Phoenix, Tucson, Glendale and Benson, Ariz., will experience the blistering heat beneath abundant sunshine this weekend and even into early next week; highs will routinely exceed 100 degrees. 

A storm system moving into the Pacific Northwest will flush out the early-season heat in the West today with more seasonable temperatures expected. However, this system will be the catalyst for dangerous winds across Nevada, southeastern Oregon and northwestern Utah today. High Wind Warnings and Wind Advisories are in place here. Sustained winds up to 35 mph and gusts up to 60 mph for cities such as Austin, Eureka and Ely, Nev., will be common.

The heat broke some records while it lasted last week though. Merced and Madera, Calif., climbed to 101 degrees Wednesday, breaking their daily records. Not to mention, Hanford, Calif., broke their daily maximum high temperature record after topping out at 102 degrees. On Friday, Tuzigoot National Monument in Clarkdale, Ariz., broke their daily record for maximum high temperature after reaching 107 degrees. 

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two of the most common and dangerous heat-related illness for this kind of weather. Some of the symptoms include cool, moist, or pale skin, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, or nausea.  

This type of heat for prolonged periods of time can be dangerous and potentially fatal if the right precautions are not taken. Make sure to hydrate if you must be outside and try to limit outside exposure to the sun. Also, make sure to check the back seat before exiting a vehicle for small pets or children, and check on any elderly family members as they are more susceptible to health complications. Check your local radio and news outlets for more information on cooling centers for your region.

Heat exhaustion and heat stroke are two of the most common and dangerous heat-related illness for this kind of weather. Some of the symptoms include cool, moist, or pale skin, headaches, muscle cramps, dizziness, or nausea.  

This type of heat for prolonged periods of time can be dangerous and potentially fatal if the right precautions are not taken. Make sure to hydrate if you must be outside and try to limit outside exposure to the sun. Also, make sure to check the back seat before exiting a vehicle for small pets or children, and check on any elderly family members as they are more susceptible to health complications. Check your local radio and news outlets for more information on cooling centers for your region.