Southwest US Hit by Heat Wave, Records Set Across Arizona, California, and Nevada

The southwestern United States is experiencing a severe heatwave, with Arizona, California, and Nevada under an excessive heat alert. The National Weather Service has reported that 11 people fell ill from heat exhaustion by late afternoon on Thursday, requiring hospitalization. Phoenix was described as experiencing "dangerously hot conditions". The heatwave is expected to persist through Friday, with roughly half of Arizona and Nevada under an excessive heat alert. Temperatures are expected to slowly retreat over the weekend but will remain above normal into early next week. Excessive heat warnings are set to expire this weekend, although extreme temperatures are still expected in California, Nevada, and Arizona.