One-third of Americans under heat alerts as extreme temperatures spread from Southwest to California
CBSN
More than a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches and warnings as a blistering heat wave that's been baking the nation spread further into California, forcing residents to seek out air conditioning or find other ways to stay cool in triple-digit temperatures.
The sweltering conditions were expected to continue to build Friday and through the weekend in Central and Southern California, where many residents should prepare for the hottest weather of the year, the National Weather Service warned. Highs in inland desert areas could top 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the day, and remain in the 80s overnight, offering little relief.
"Things really turn up this weekend in the Southwest," Weather Channel meteorologist Stephanie Abrams said Friday on "CBS Mornings." "Saturday, records start falling in New Mexico and Arizona. Sunday, we'll be close to tying our all-time record high in Vegas at 117 degrees. Death Valley is going to approach 130, with their lows around 100 degrees."
