Wildfire Threat Increases Across the West as Temperatures Soar

It is setting up to be a scorcher of a week in the western U.S. While the building heat dome will provide good conditions for classic summer activities, the rising temperatures will pair with the dry weather to raise the risk of wildfires. Here is a look at what is happening out West.

Strengthening Heat Dome Out West Could Break Daily High Records

An intensifying heat dome in the western U.S. could challenge new daily records in the weeks to come. The bulk of the heat will focus on the region between the Rockies and the Interstate 5 corridor, sparing the coastal areas and the far northwestern corner of the U.S.

The extreme heat in the West will behave similarly to the heat dome that left millions of Americans sweltering in the eastern U.S. last week. While that heat wave on the East Coast dissipated late last week, it is now time for the West to feel the burn.

Forecasters are warning that the western third of the country could see the hottest temperatures of the season in the days ahead. High pressure is already starting to build throughout most levels of the atmosphere across the interior portions of the Southwest. This building pressure will not only bring the mercury up, but it will also fend off the chance of rain. The intense early August sunshine will then work to dry out the parched landscape even further.

Desert Southwest Will See Hottest Temperatures

How hot will it get? Temperatures are forecast to eclipse the 100-degree mark across the Desert Southwest. Phoenix is forecast to see temperatures peak on Wednesday and Thursday, with an eye-popping high of 117 degrees.

The desert resort town of Palm Springs, California, is bracing for several consecutive days with highs that top 110 degrees. Thursday will likely be the hottest day of the week, with a forecast high of 113 degrees. Overnight lows will bottom out in the upper 70s and low 80s.

Temperatures could break daily records in several communities by the end of the week. Forecasters are predicting that the temperatures will reach their peak by the middle to latter portions of the week.

This is a good time to note strategies that will help to stave off heat-related illnesses. In addition to being intentional about staying well hydrated, you should also avoid strenuous outdoor activities during the peak afternoon heating hours.

Impact of the Heat on Wildfire Danger

The only part of the western U.S. expected to see widespread rain or storms in the coming days will be the northern reaches of the region. For instance, storms could be a concern at times for parts of Montana and Wyoming.

The increasing heat and the lack of moisture have created worsening drought conditions in the Southwest. This pattern has laid the groundwork for a heightened wildfire risk even during the early part of the season.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency on Thursday as wildfires continue to ravage the state. Unfortunately, the situation is not likely to improve this week thanks to the forecast of higher temperatures.

According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), there have been nearly 41,000 wildfires so far this year in the U.S. To put these numbers into context, there had been 21,970 confirmed fires over the same time period last year. The 2025 fires have scorched over 3,253,000 acres with the peak of the season still ahead.