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PHOENIX, Arizona — A prolonged extreme heat wave is scorching the western United States this week, with forecasters warning that some desert communities could reach 117°F. The hottest conditions are expected in southern California’s Coachella Valley, including Palm Springs, on Thursday and Friday, where temperatures could climb to a dangerously high 117°F. In Arizona, particularly dangerous heat has lingered, with Phoenix recording 113°F on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and forecasts suggesting the city could hit 115°F by midday Thursday. Forecasters say temperatures in the Phoenix area may not fall below 110°F before next week, keeping conditions hazardous around the clock. PHOENIX, Arizona — The National Weather Service has issued extreme heat warnings and advisories for millions of people across the desert Southwest and parts of the Southeast, in effect through Friday night, and has posted extreme heat watches for parts of Colorado, Montana and the Dakotas. In the Phoenix area, the intense heat has closed hiking trails and driven a surge in emergencies, with the Phoenix Fire Department reporting about 400 heat-related calls since May 1 and using cold water immersion techniques daily to treat heat stroke. Local officials say 18 people in the Phoenix area have died from heat-related causes so far this year, compared with five by this time last year. Fire weather alerts are also in place for parts of the region, as dry thunderstorms, low humidity and lightning raise the risk of wildfires, while heat indices in parts of the Carolinas and Georgia could reach 113°F to 116°F through the end of the week.

By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News