Level 4 Heat Threat Slams Desert Southwest

While the eastern U.S. is cooling off after last week's record-breaking heat wave, the mercury is climbing in the western third of the country. A new heat dome is emerging across the Desert Southwest, threatening to bring new season-high temperatures by the end of the week. Here is a look at how hot it is going to get under this Level 4 heat threat.

Desert Southwest and Interior West Will Sizzle Through the Weekend

The Desert Southwest is the nation's next hot spot as a heat dome builds over the region. Temperatures are forecast to peak across the interior West over the next few days, reaching levels about 5 to 10 degrees above the historical average for the second week of July.

This corner of the country saw seasonal high marks a few months ago during the spring heat wave. These levels are likely to be surpassed as the week comes to a close.

How toasty will it get? Highs are expected to reach about 114 degrees on both Thursday and Friday in Phoenix before slipping to 112 on Saturday. Overnight lows will bottom out in the low 90s during this stretch, providing no relief from the heat.