The National Weather Service (NWS) cautioned on Saturday “don’t underestimate the impact of heat.”
Heat advisories are in effect for about 113 million Americans, from Florida to California and up to Washington state.
One of the hottest places on Earth, Death Valley in California, may reach its record temperature of 130°F (54°C).
The NWS said that “this weekend will bring a scorching and extremely dangerous heatwave to parts of the West and Southern US.”
“Heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths most years,” it cautioned.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 700 persons die in the US each year as a result of heat-related conditions.
The sweltering weather is anticipated to last into the next week.
According to the NWS, the heatwave was “one of the strongest” systems of its sort to impact the area and was caused by an upper level ridge of high pressure, which is known to bring about warmer temperatures.
In the next days, Las Vegas, Nevada, could surpass its all-time high temperature of 117F (47C).
Locals who may believe they can withstand the temperatures were advised by weather officials that this was “not your typical desert heat”.
The NWS in Las Vegas tweeted, “‘It’s the desert, of course its hot’- This is a DANGEROUS mind set!”
Due to its extended duration, severe daytime temperatures, and warm nights, this heatwave differs from the ordinary heat of the desert. Even people who reside in the desert need to take this heat seriously.
The prediction for the next five days calls for temperatures to reach or exceed 110F (43C), putting Phoenix, Arizona, on track to break its record for the lengthiest hot spell.
The city has already experienced 15 days with temperatures above 110°F, breaking the previous record of 18 days.
Additionally, “strong to severe thunderstorms, heavy rain, and flooding will be possible in several locations,” including the northeastern New England region of the United States, according to the NWS.
Over the previous week, extremely hot temperatures have already caused problems in some parts of the south-western US. For 27 days in a row, El Paso, Texas, has seen triple-digit Fahrenheit temperatures.
As residents attempt to stay cool, the use of air conditioners in the state has exceeded its previous record for power consumption, and parks, museums, and zoos have either closed or reduced their hours.
Hospitals were also receiving admissions linked to the heat.
Dr. Ashkan Morim, who works in the emergency room at Dignity Health Siena Hospital, outside of Las Vegas, said, “We’re getting a lot of heat-related illness now, a lot of dehydration, and heat exhaustion.”
Some places were predicted to see “abnormally warm” overnight temperatures, which would provide no reprieve from the heat at night.
The extreme heat in the US is reminiscent of the scorching temperatures in Europe, which compelled Greece to close the Acropolis, one of its top tourist destinations, on Friday and Saturday.
The highest ever recorded worldwide average temperature was 63F (17.23C) last week.
According to scientists, climate change and the naturally occurring weather phenomenon known as El Nio, which occurs every three to seven years and raises temperatures, are the main drivers of the current high temperatures.
Since the start of the industrial age, the world has already warmed by around 1.1C, and temperatures will continue to rise unless governments drastically reduce emissions.
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