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| Western US states baked by blistering heat wave | Western US states baked by blistering heat wave |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Western US states are baking under an extended heat wave, with temperatures threatening to break the all-time high recorded on Earth. | |
| Phoenix, Arizona, could see the mercury hit 48C (118F) on Friday, officials said. Temperatures higher than 37C were expected as far north as Utah. | Phoenix, Arizona, could see the mercury hit 48C (118F) on Friday, officials said. Temperatures higher than 37C were expected as far north as Utah. |
| The heat wave is expected to last through the weekend. | The heat wave is expected to last through the weekend. |
| Cities in the region are opening cooling centres and officials fear the heat could delay air travel. | Cities in the region are opening cooling centres and officials fear the heat could delay air travel. |
| Most large aircraft can operate in temperatures up to 52C, but temperatures as low as 47C could affect liftoff conditions. | Most large aircraft can operate in temperatures up to 52C, but temperatures as low as 47C could affect liftoff conditions. |
| A US Airways spokesman said the airline would be monitoring temperatures in Phoenix "very closely". | A US Airways spokesman said the airline would be monitoring temperatures in Phoenix "very closely". |
| 'Stuck' weather | 'Stuck' weather |
| The National Weather Service has issued a heat warning for several parts of the region, including Las Vegas, until Monday morning. Parts of five states including Colorado and Utah will see temperatures higher than 37C over the weekend. | The National Weather Service has issued a heat warning for several parts of the region, including Las Vegas, until Monday morning. Parts of five states including Colorado and Utah will see temperatures higher than 37C over the weekend. |
| "We'll be at or above record levels in the Phoenix area and throughout a lot of the south-western United States," meteorologist Mark O'Malley said. | "We'll be at or above record levels in the Phoenix area and throughout a lot of the south-western United States," meteorologist Mark O'Malley said. |
| Temperatures in Death Valley in the California desert are forecasted to reach 53C. The hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth, 57C, was marked there almost 100 years ago on 10 July 1913. | Temperatures in Death Valley in the California desert are forecasted to reach 53C. The hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth, 57C, was marked there almost 100 years ago on 10 July 1913. |
| Weather officials say the extreme weather is caused by a high pressure system stuck over the area. | Weather officials say the extreme weather is caused by a high pressure system stuck over the area. |
| Scientists say the North American jet stream, the path of air that influences weather patterns, has become more erratic in the past few years, making weather systems more likely to become stuck in place. | Scientists say the North American jet stream, the path of air that influences weather patterns, has become more erratic in the past few years, making weather systems more likely to become stuck in place. |
| But they disagree on whether global warming is the cause of the jet stream's behaviour. | But they disagree on whether global warming is the cause of the jet stream's behaviour. |
| The US Border Patrol's search, trauma and rescue unit has added extra personnel this weekend as the threat of exhaustion and dehydration rises for those attempting to cross the US-Mexico border illegally on foot. | The US Border Patrol's search, trauma and rescue unit has added extra personnel this weekend as the threat of exhaustion and dehydration rises for those attempting to cross the US-Mexico border illegally on foot. |
| At least seven migrants were found dead in Arizona's desert last week in lower temperatures. Border officials in Tucson, Arizona, rescued more than 170 people suffering from the heat during a thirty-day period in May and June. | At least seven migrants were found dead in Arizona's desert last week in lower temperatures. Border officials in Tucson, Arizona, rescued more than 170 people suffering from the heat during a thirty-day period in May and June. |
| Utility officials planned to monitor electricity usage closely over the weekend but were not immediately concerned about overloads. | Utility officials planned to monitor electricity usage closely over the weekend but were not immediately concerned about overloads. |
| "While it's hot, people tend to leave town and some businesses aren't open, so that has a tendency to mitigate demand and is why we typically don't set records on weekends," said spokesman Scott Harelson of Phoenix-area utility Salt River Project. | "While it's hot, people tend to leave town and some businesses aren't open, so that has a tendency to mitigate demand and is why we typically don't set records on weekends," said spokesman Scott Harelson of Phoenix-area utility Salt River Project. |
| And zookeepers at the Phoenix Zoo were expected to keep outdoor animals chilled with water hoses and concrete slabs cooled by internal water-filled pipes. | And zookeepers at the Phoenix Zoo were expected to keep outdoor animals chilled with water hoses and concrete slabs cooled by internal water-filled pipes. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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