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Photo Credit: NWS Phoenix | Cover Photo: CalFire Facebook Page

A deadly heat wave that is sweeping across the southwest has already claimed the lives of 4 hikers in Arizona after Phoenix recorded its 5th highest temperature ever at 118°F on Sunday.

NWS Phoenix is calling for temperatures to rise to 122°F!

Sunday’s record high temperatures claimed 3 hikers while Saturday was responsible for 1 heat-related fatality. While hiking on the Peralta Trail in Pinal County, a 25 year-old man fell victim to heat related illness reports NBC News. Sunday’s deaths included 3 hikers in Maricopa and Pima Counties.

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Photo Credit: NWS Phoenix

Expecting temperatures to remain high, meteorologists are warning those going outside to limit their exposure to the heat and drink lots of water.

“It’s already very hot outside, with temperatures continuing to rise into the 115 to 122 range this afternoon in the lower deserts. Please try to limit outdoor activity, these temperatures are deadly, even in the morning. Drink plenty of water, wear loose-fitted clothing, and oh drink water!!!” – NWS Phoenix

And to add insult to injury, fire warnings are spreading across the southwest, with southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico all working on controlling wildfires. The “Dog Head” fire in New Mexico has already ravaged over 17,000 acres south of Albuquerque and is only 9% contained. Meanwhile in “The Border Fire” has consumed nearly 2,000 acres in southern California.

NOAA Excessive Heat Warning

…EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM MST TUESDAY…

* AFFECTED AREA…THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF YAVAPAI AND NORTHERN GILA COUNTIES BELOW 4000 FEET…INCLUDING LOCATIONS SUCH AS CONGRESS… COTTONWOOD AND THE VERDE VALLEY…BLACK CANYON CITY.

* TEMPERATURE…HIGHS FROM 110 TO 117 DEGREES.

* IMPACTS…HEAT RELATED ILLNESS WILL BE LIKELY FOR THOSE
INVOLVED IN STRENUOUS ACTIVITY OUTDOORS…OR THOSE WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS WHO DO NOT HAVE ADEQUATE ACCESS TO AIR CONDITIONING. IF UNTREATED…SOME ILLNESS EVENTS COULD BE FATAL.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING MEANS THAT A PROLONGED PERIOD OF DANGEROUSLY HOT TEMPERATURES WILL OCCUR. THE HOT TEMPERATURES WILL CREATE A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN WHICH HEAT ILLNESSES ARE LIKELY. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS…STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM IF POSSIBLE…STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS.

TO REDUCE RISK DURING OUTDOOR WORK THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION RECOMMENDS SCHEDULING FREQUENT REST BREAKS IN SHADED OR AIR CONDITIONED ENVIRONMENTS. ANYONE OVERCOME BY HEAT SHOULD BE MOVED TO A COOL AND SHADED LOCATION. HEAT STROKE IS AN EMERGENCY…CALL 9 1 1

NOAA Red Flag Fire Warning 

…RED FLAG WARNING IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY FOR VERY LOW HUMIDITIES…VERY HIGH TEMPERATURES…AND LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS FOR THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES…

.INCREASING SUNDOWNER WINDS COMBINED WITH VERY HOT TEMPERATURES… LOW HUMIDITIES…AND VERY DRY FUELS WILL BRING EXTREME FIRE DANGER TO THE SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MOUNTAINS AND SOUTH COAST THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. WIND GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH WILL BE COMMON BELOW AND THROUGH PASSES AND CANYONS. HUMIDITIES WILL LOWER TO BETWEEN 8 AND 20 PERCENT DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING IN THE WINDIEST LOCATIONS. HIGHS TODAY WILL RISE INTO THE 90S TO LOWER 100S…WHILE TEMPERATURES TONIGHT WILL REMAIN VERY WARM WITH 80S IN THE WINDY AREAS. EXTREME FIRE BEHAVIOR AND RAPID FIRE SPREAD WILL BE LIKELY DURING THE TIMES OF STRONGEST WINDS.

THE MOUNTAINS OF LOS ANGELES AND VENTURA COUNTIES ARE ALSO EXPECTED TO HAVE EXTREME FIRE DANGER THROUGH TUESDAY…AND A RED FLAG WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THESE AREAS. PROLONGED PERIODS OF TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT…SINGLE DIGIT HUMIDITIES… LOCALLY GUSTY WINDS …WITH VERY DRY AND STRESSED FUELS CAN BE EXPECTED.

Find the entire NBC News article here: Intense Heatwave Kills Four, Feeds Southwest Wildfires

Barclay Idsal is a seasoned writer and digital content producer with over a decade of experience in the ski industry, where writing and skiing rank as his two all-time favorite pastimes. A passionate advocate...