One of the largest and most intense heat waves in years began settling into the Western U.S. Friday, prompting a flurry of public health warnings as records were poised to topple from the Canadian to Mexican borders —with even an all-time high for the world in Death Valley in potential jeopardy.
The mercury Friday was forecast to hit 126 degrees in California's Death Valley, where the world record of 134 was set in 1913. With highs there forecast to climb to 129 by Monday—15 degrees above normal for this time of year—Roger Lamoni, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Salt Lake City, said it wouldn't take much to set a new global record.
Meanwhile, records were likely to be broken or tied from Boise, Idaho, with a forecast high of 107 by early next week, to Las Vegas, where forecast highs of 117 would break a June record of 116 set in 1940 and tie the all-time high for the city, according to the National Weather Service.
Elsewhere, Fresno, Calif. stood to break its high-temperature record of 108 set in 2010 with a forecast of 111 by Monday, while Salt Lake City was set to hit 104 Saturday, breaking its all-time record of 102 set in 1961.
"It's just gruesome out there," David Sanders, manager of Ace Home Services in Phoenix, said as he raced between air-conditioning repair calls Friday, when temperatures were forecast to hit 118, matching a record for the date set in 1990. Mr. Sanders said he had gone out on 30 calls to repair air conditioners in the morning, or about the same number he normally handles per day this time of year.
Meteorologists attributed the heat wave—the most extensive for the West since 2007—to a high pressure ridge, perhaps superheated by warm air flowing from a tropical disturbance in the eastern Pacific. They said it likely would break down by early next week, restoring the region to normal.
In the meantime, public health officials issued warnings for people to stay indoors and remain as hydrated as much as possible.
Las Vegas was among a number of cities opening gymnasiums, recreational centers and other buildings as cooling centers for the homeless and others in need of shelter. Officials at NV Energy, Nevada's biggest utility, said they were prepared to handle as much as an 18% jump in projected demand.
"This is going to be a disaster for some folks who can't find relief from the heat," said Lloyd Ziel, spokesman for the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada, which planned to staff two of the 10 cooling centers opening this weekend in Las Vegas.
In Fresno, John Shirley, owner of Storm Shield Roofing, said he ordered his crews to start work at 6:30 a.m. Friday— and hour earlier than normal— to try to beat on a day when the high was forecast to hit 105.
"We're telling the men to take their water breaks, take their salt tablets," Mr. Shirley said.
Write to Jim Carlton at [email protected]
The mercury Friday was forecast to hit 126 degrees in California's Death Valley, where the world record of 134 was set in 1913. With highs there forecast to climb to 129 by Monday—15 degrees above normal for this time of year—Roger Lamoni, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Salt Lake City, said it wouldn't take much to set a new global record.
Meanwhile, records were likely to be broken or tied from Boise, Idaho, with a forecast high of 107 by early next week, to Las Vegas, where forecast highs of 117 would break a June record of 116 set in 1940 and tie the all-time high for the city, according to the National Weather Service.
Elsewhere, Fresno, Calif. stood to break its high-temperature record of 108 set in 2010 with a forecast of 111 by Monday, while Salt Lake City was set to hit 104 Saturday, breaking its all-time record of 102 set in 1961.
"It's just gruesome out there," David Sanders, manager of Ace Home Services in Phoenix, said as he raced between air-conditioning repair calls Friday, when temperatures were forecast to hit 118, matching a record for the date set in 1990. Mr. Sanders said he had gone out on 30 calls to repair air conditioners in the morning, or about the same number he normally handles per day this time of year.
Meteorologists attributed the heat wave—the most extensive for the West since 2007—to a high pressure ridge, perhaps superheated by warm air flowing from a tropical disturbance in the eastern Pacific. They said it likely would break down by early next week, restoring the region to normal.
In the meantime, public health officials issued warnings for people to stay indoors and remain as hydrated as much as possible.
Las Vegas was among a number of cities opening gymnasiums, recreational centers and other buildings as cooling centers for the homeless and others in need of shelter. Officials at NV Energy, Nevada's biggest utility, said they were prepared to handle as much as an 18% jump in projected demand.
"This is going to be a disaster for some folks who can't find relief from the heat," said Lloyd Ziel, spokesman for the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada, which planned to staff two of the 10 cooling centers opening this weekend in Las Vegas.
In Fresno, John Shirley, owner of Storm Shield Roofing, said he ordered his crews to start work at 6:30 a.m. Friday— and hour earlier than normal— to try to beat on a day when the high was forecast to hit 105.
"We're telling the men to take their water breaks, take their salt tablets," Mr. Shirley said.
Write to Jim Carlton at [email protected]