More than 70 million people in the United States were under extreme heat alerts Monday as a heat wave moved eastward, and the mid-Atlantic and New England were likely to see highs in the 90s as the week progresses.
Excessive humidity will make it feel even more oppressive.
The U.S. last year saw the most heat waves, consisting of abnormally hot weather lasting more than two days, since 1936. Officials again warned residents to take precautions.
Much of the Midwest and Northeast were under heat warnings or watches.
This week, high temperatures in Tucson will range from 101 to 109 degrees, the National Weather Service here says.
But, there’s a slight chance of thunderstorms by the weekend.
See what today's weather forecast looks like in Tucson.
Monday temperatures were expected to reach about 103 degrees followed by 101 and 104 on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Temperatures will rise on Thursday, reaching 109 degrees before dipping back down.
There is a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms on Friday, with a temperature of 107 degrees.
Those showers chances will reach into the weekend with a 40 percent chance on Saturday, 105 degrees, and a 30 percent chance on Sunday, 102 degrees.
“This is likely going to be the door that opens up for monsoon type moisture,” said National Weather Service senior forecaster Alex Edwards. “This will start to bring some activity to southeastern Arizona by the weekend.”
The heat has been especially dangerous in recent years in Phoenix, where 645 people died from heat-related causes in 2023, which was a record.
Temperatures there hit 112 degrees on Saturday. Weather service forecasters say the first two weeks of June in Phoenix have been an average of 5.6 degrees hotter than normal — the hottest start to June on record there.
A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, Ted Whittock, advised reducing time outdoors between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m., staying hydrated and wearing light, looser fitting clothing.
In neighboring New Mexico, heat on the Chaves County plains including Roswell was expected to hit 107 degrees on Monday. In southern Colorado, temperatures were expected to surpass 100 degrees.
In Southern California, firefighters increased their containment of a large wildfire in mountains north of Los Angeles on Monday after a weekend of explosive, wind-driven growth along Interstate 5.
While much of the U.S. swelters, late-season snow was forecast for the northern Rockies on Monday and Tuesday.
Parts of Montana and north-central Idaho were under a winter storm warning. As much as 20 inches was predicted for higher elevations around Glacier National Park.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of tropical moisture was bringing an increasing threat of heavy rain and flash flooding to the central Gulf Coast.
Hurricane season this year is forecast to be among the most active in recent memory.
