The National Weather Service (NWS) warned that the region is experiencing "dangerously hot conditions for early June" in parts of northwest Arizona, southeast California and southern Nevada.
These conditions are expected to persist through Friday, taking a particular toll on both Death Valley National Park and the Las Vegas Valley and providing little relief overnight, according to the NWS.
"Heat is the #1 weather related fatality in the U.S.," the NWS Las Vegas branch cautioned on X.
Before the Southwest began to sizzle on Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that the Golden State had entered "Phase 2" of its Extreme Temperature Response Plan — a shift that occurs when the NWS predicts excessive heat activity.
"Extreme heat can be deadly," Newsom said in a statement. "Together, let’s do everything we can to stay safe."
During this second phase of the Extreme Temperature Response Plan, the government typically ramps up public health advisories and zooms in on local needs, while putting state-owned cooling centers on stand-by.
When heat forecasts indicate at least three consecutive days of life-threatening temperatures, a third phase can then take effect.
At that point, the state would typically mobilize cooling centers and coordinate with local agencies to ensure accessible transportation, while potentially declaring a state of emergency, per the plan.
Californians eying the region’s rivers should also take heed, the NWS Sacramento branch warned on X. The meteorologists stressed that while "it may be tempting to jump right in the water when it's this hot," waterways "are still very cold and fast."
"Even strong swimmers can quickly be affected by cold water," they added.
The agency also reminded residents to account for their "fuzzy friends," noting that ground surfaces get much hotter than the air — posing a threat to pet paws.
A 102-degree-Fahrenheit air temperature, NWS Sacramento noted, yields 106-degree green grass, 120-degree brown grass, 143-degree concrete and 167-degree blacktop — five degrees higher than the point at which human skin is instantly destroyed.
In Arizona, meanwhile, the Phoenix Fire Department shuttered certain hiking paths amid excessive heat warnings.
The agency also announced that it would be implementing a new strategy to help reduce heat-related fatalities: The immersion of patients in ice enroute to hospitals, The Associated Press reported.
The technique, common among marathon runners and military service members, involves packing ice cubes in an impenetrable bag around the patient, per the AP.
“Just last week we had a critical patient that we were able to bring back before we walked through the emergency room doors,” Fire Capt. John Prato told the AP. “That’s our goal — to improve patient survivability.”
