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(Bloomberg) — A severe heat wave will kick off in the southern United States and expand into the Pacific Northwest this week, with temperatures in the Southwest reaching up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
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“The US Southwest will see very hot temperatures all week,” says Andrew Orison, forecaster at the US Weather Prediction Center. “This will be a very large heat wave that will expand in coverage and magnitude.”
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Higher temperatures are also expected in northern Mexico.
Orison says the heat will move into the Pacific Northwest as it expands throughout the week. Temperatures in Portland, Oregon, are expected to approach 90 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the week. In addition to the high temperatures, red flag fire warnings have been posted in parts of Oregon and Washington.
Excessive heat warnings and monitoring are in place for parts of California, Nevada and Arizona, where temperatures above 100 F are expected to spread, and heat warnings have been posted in counties across New Mexico, Texas and Florida. San Antonio is expected to reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday and will stay there all week, while Dallas will be very hot starting Wednesday. The weather service said Houston will reach 98 degrees Fahrenheit, but the humidity will make it much hotter.
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The weather service warned residents in parts of California and Arizona and along the Colorado River of “dangerously hot afternoons with little relief expected overnight.” High temperatures are expected to decrease during the next week.
Prolonged exposure to heat has a detrimental effect on human health, especially for women and the elderly. Globally, more than 5 million people die each year due to rising temperatures. Rising temperatures are also taxing energy supplies as people turn to air conditioning to keep cool and save lives. The Weather Service urges people in hot regions to stay in air-conditioned spaces or find places to relax.
Read more: America’s largest powerhouse wasn’t built for severe weather
Elsewhere in the United States, deadly floods swept through the lower Hudson River valley north of New York City on Monday, as a slow-moving weather front made its way across the northeastern United States. Up to 8.12 inches of rain fell at the United States Military Academy at West Point as of 6 a.m., following a flash flood emergency over the weekend. At least one person has died, according to the Associated Press, with social media showing that many roads were flooded or blocked by debris.
