Extreme Heat To Sear the Southwest This Weekend Into Next Week; Phoenix May Threaten All-Time Record High

Dangerously hot temperatures will grip the Southwest this weekend into next week, potentially threatening the all-time record high temperature in Phoenix.

A large dome of high pressure in the upper atmosphere will be in place over the Southwest by this weekend. Beneath the dome, sinking air will cause temperatures to soar well over 110 degrees in many areas.

This is a classic pre-monsoon heat event for the Southwest region. Some of the highest temperatures of the year can be recorded before the onset of the summer monsoon. Humidity levels are low, so the sun's energy can be used to heat the air rather than being absorbed by water vapor or used for evaporation.

Various heat alerts have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) across southern and western Arizona, far southern Nevada and portions of California.

"There is absolutely no doubt we will be near all time highs with this heat wave, with the hottest and most dangerous temperatures expected Monday through Wednesday," the NWS in Phoenix said in their forecast discussion Thursday morning.