Extreme Heat and Wildfire Alerts Impact Over 40 Million Americans This Week
Southwest and Midwest brace for triple-digit temperatures as parts of the West face dangerous wildfire conditions.
This week, large parts of the United States are under extensive weather warnings for both dangerous heat waves and wildfire risks, with more than 40 million people facing potentially hazardous conditions.
Extreme Heat Alerts
Excessive heat warnings remain in effect for Phoenix, Arizona, Palm Springs, California, and the low-elevation areas of Grand Canyon National Park, where temperatures are expected to range from 100°F to 115°F.
Additional heat advisories have been issued across the Southwest and Southern Plains, affecting cities such as Albuquerque, New Mexico; El Paso and Dallas, Texas; Oklahoma City; Little Rock, Arkansas; Wichita, Kansas; Springfield, Missouri; and Kansas City.
Wildfire Danger in the West
Four western states—Oregon, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming—are under Red Flag Warnings due to critically low humidity levels (dropping into the single digits) combined with strong winds, creating conditions ripe for rapid wildfire spread.
Pacific Northwest Heat
The Pacific Northwest, including Medford and Portland, Oregon, is facing daytime highs up to 110°F, with warm nighttime lows between 65°F and 70°F—limiting natural nighttime cooling and increasing health risks.
Looking Ahead
While the Southwest is expected to see a brief cooldown early in the week, heat will return in force to the Midwest and Northeast. Northern New York and New England could see near-record temperatures late in the week, ranging from the upper 80s to well above 90°F.
