Southwestern US to have record-challenging heat as drought remains into the weekend

By Renee Duff, AccuWeather meteorologist

Record highs dating back to the 1940s will be in jeopardy across the southwestern United States as intense heat builds into the Labor Day weekend.

While average high temperatures start trending down at this point in the season most years, this weekend will feel more like the middle of summer due to widespread highs in the 90s, 100s and 110s F.

"California, the Great Basin, Desert Southwest and Intermountain West region will be hot and mainly dry into this weekend, with many areas having temperatures as much as 4-14 degrees Fahrenheit above normal," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Jack Boston said.

Highs typically range from 104 in Phoenix to around 87 in Salt Lake City, Utah and Grand Junction, Colorado. These cities will join Elko, Nevada, and Albuquerque, New Mexico, in challenging record highs during the end of August and beginning of September.

The core of the heat is expected to expand northward during the first days of the new month.

The greatest chance for record-breaking temperatures in Denver will be on Sunday and Labor Day. The heat will peak in Casper, Wyoming, and Pocatello, Idaho, around this time as well.

On Labor Day, Cheyenne, Wyoming, is forecast to come close to its record high of 92 set in 1947.

Residents and those visiting for the Labor Day holiday will need to take the necessary precautions to lessen the risk of heat-related illnesses. This includes wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothing, drinking of plenty of water and limiting strenuous activity to the coolest times of the day.

Remember to never leave children or pets in a sealed vehicle for even a short amount of time.

The heat will not come with any meaningful rainfall chances in what has been a lack-luster monsoon season.

"There can be some spotty afternoon showers and thunderstorms in the Four Corners region and Rockies the second half of this week, mainly in the high country, but they will not have much of an effect on the region's drought," Boston said.

Pockets of abnormally dry to moderate drought conditions extend from Southern California to portions of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Colorado and Wyoming, according to the United States Drought Monitor.

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A mere 0.27 of an inch of rain has fallen in Phoenix since June 1, making this year tied for the fourth driest monsoon on record, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). The city typically receives 1.96 inches of rain by this point.

Yuma, Arizona, is also experiencing its fourth driest monsoon on record with only a trace of rain recorded since June 1. Only 1877, 1944 and 2000 were drier with no rainfall recorded during the monsoon, according to the NWS.

Hikers and anyone else outdoors should be watchful for billowing, darkening clouds which signal a thunderstorm may be brewing.

The building heat, combined with parched ground, will contribute to an elevated risk of wildfire ignition. Thunderstorms with dry lightning, or lightning in the absence of meaningful rainfall, will also elevate this risk.

Download the free AccuWeather app to view the latest forecast track temperature trends in your area. Keep checking back for updates on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.