As California’s perennial drought continues, state officials have imposed watering restrictions on residents due to lack of supplies. The measures lead some homeowners to change their turf for artificial turf. (June 3) AP A historic heat wave in the West was forecast to roll east this week as Phoenix, Las Vegas and Denver plunged into a record number of cities and towns with record temperatures and more than 50 million Americans drowned in pre-floods. heat. Temperatures in Death Valley, California rose to over 120 degrees Celsius while in Phoenix, a man grilled a burger and baked a cake on his board. Parts of Missouri, Kansas, Louisiana and Mississippi also received weekend warnings, according to the National Weather Service. Blame it on a northbound jet stream that swept over the southwestern states this week, AccuWeather said. The swelling allowed the air, more typical of mid-summer, to spread in the area. An “active and intense warm-up” is underway for more than the nation this week as the jet stream rises north, AccuWeather warned. “A large heat cloud will become more expansive in the central, midwestern and southeastern states in the coming days,” said AccuWeather’s senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski. MORE THAN 80 MILLION PEOPLE WARNED ABOUT HIGH TEMPERATURES Saturday after Phoenix, Las Vegas reached record highs Cities from Chicago and St. Louis to Charlotte and Raleigh could see record and triple-digit temperatures this week, AccuWeather said. Wichita will approach 100 points on Monday. Chicago and Indianapolis will see top lows on Tuesday, AccuWeather said. “As heat and humidity rise Monday, a series of strong thunderstorms could follow in Northern Illinois,” the Chicago Meteorological Agency said. “Dangerous heat and humidity will follow on Tuesday and Wednesday. The National Weather Service in Nashville warned of temperatures approaching 100 degrees later in the week. “Here’s the biggest problem: Low mornings will only get * cold * in the ’70s with VERY wet conditions,” the Nashville National Weather Service warned on Twitter. “Continuous heat like this can cause #Heat disease and injury in vulnerable populations.” RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES? How to stay safe during a heat wave The general pattern of weather has remained largely in place for more than a week, allowing heat to build up in the central United States and the desert southwest. Denver reached 100 degrees on Saturday, a record for the day and the earliest summer the city has ever reached three digits. Temperatures in excess of 100 degrees Celsius were also reported in parts of New Mexico and Texas. The extreme heat that has gripped much of Lone Star State is far from over, warn AccuWeather meteorologists. And as it expands into the plains, rounds of intense weather occur. “Some impressive damage to trees on the east side of K-State campus with damaged buildings,” the meteorological service in Topeka wrote on Twitter on Sunday. “Many multi-directional tree falls and significant 4-8 diameter edges” brought a lot of roads. “ WHAT HAPPENS TO THE WEATHER? Subscribe to USA TODAY’s free weekly Climate Point newsletter The Pittsburgh Meteorological Service has warned that storms could hit western Pennsylvania with a large dose of high heat: “If you’re not a heat enthusiast, well … only 192 days until the first day of winter.” In California, thousands of residents headed to the beach. “To really get away from the heat,” Christine Ramirez, a San Bernardino resident, told KABC-TV on Newport Beach. San Bernardino could see 100 points later in the week. “We just wanted a family day, so we all went out … parking early and staying out all day.” At least the insane heat found in Death Valley was not a threat to the all-time record. It rose to 134 degrees on July 10, 1913. In Arizona, meteorologists warned of a high “risk of heatwave” until Monday, as high temperatures soared to 115 degrees. Residents were warned to limit outdoor activities. In Phoenix, TikToker Joe Brown’s thermometer showed a temperature of 202 degrees inside his car. “The burgers were well made and so I like my hamburgers, so I know they will be good,” Brown said as he pulled them out of a tray sitting on the board. “If you are ever too lazy to cook on your stove, just cook in your car. This burger was definitely 10 out of 10.” Contribution: The Associated Press
