Building heat across the West to challenge record highs this week

SOUTHWEST – Above-average temperatures were generally limited to the Desert Southwest last week, but a shift in the jet stream pattern will bring expanding heat across much of the Intermountain West this week.

An upper-level dome of high pressure sat over the southern Plains last week, which resulted in an extended streak of triple-digit heat for many across Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. This dome is forecast to shift west, along with the above-average temperatures.

Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, are just some of the cities expected to challenge record-high temperatures over the coming week.

Residents in Salt Lake City and Reno will see afternoon high temperatures reach the middle to upper 90s on each afternoon from Tuesday through Friday, while the mercury soars into the upper 100s in Las Vegas and over 110 in Phoenix.

Along with an uptick in the temperatures, humidity levels will increase late this week as monsoon moisture streams into portions of the Desert Southwest. This will act to send Accuweather RealFeel Temperatures about 5-10 degrees higher than what the thermometer registers, especially late in the week.