A deadly heatwave simmering in the US southwest since spring is expected to spread to several other states, with multiple heat warnings being issued.
The heatwave, which has led to extreme temperatures such as 45.5C (114F) which was recorded in Arizona’s capital Phoenix on Sunday, is forecast to expand into central and eastern parts of the country for the last week of July.
The US National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings and advisories across 13 states including parts of California, Texas, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, as well as the southern tip of Florida.
Currently, temperatures are fluctuating between the high 30s and early 40s in the country’s southwestern regions.
At least four tourists in the southwest are believed to have died due to heat since the beginning of June, the National Park Service reported.
Some cities have braced themselves for the sweltering conditions including Phoenix where people from the city’s heat response programme prepared heat relief kits, manned hydration stations and distributed water bottles to the homeless.
