Story Highlights <\/p>\n
A prolonged heatwave brought unusually hot temperatures to the Southwest. <\/p>\n
Maps released by NASA show how abnormal the heat has been. <\/p>\n
Land surface temperatures have reached upwards of 120 degrees in some places. <\/p>\n
The Southwest is no stranger to heat, but June has produced unusually sweltering temperatures in the region, and maps released by NASA shows just how out of the norm the heat wave was. <\/p>\n
A prolonged heat wave has affected the Southwest since the middle of June, according to weather.com meteorologist Chris Dolce.Phoenix and Las Vegas both recorded nine consecutive days with highs of 110 degrees or hotter through Sunday. <\/p>\n
Maps released by NASA show the land surface temperatures of the Earth, which reflect how hot the planets surface would feel to the touch, according toa release from the space agency. <\/p>\n
(MORE:This is Where 120-Degree Temperatures Have Officially Been Recorded the Most) <\/p>\n
In themap above, Las Vegas, Phoenix and Needles and Palm Springs in California are all highlighted in a deep red zone, which reflects surface temperaturesof at least 113 degrees. <\/p>\n
Phoenix has set three daily record highs in the last nine days and Las Vegas equaled its all-time record high of 117 degrees last week, said Dolce.Palm Springs hit 122 degrees for the third time in six days on Sunday. The town of Needles tied its daily record high of 125 degrees last Tuesday. <\/p>\n
The second map shows land surface temperatures between June 15 and 21, compared to the averages for the same time period from 2001 to 2010. The red areas show where temperatures were hotter than the long-term average and the blue show areas that were below average. <\/p>\n
The heat wave has taken its toll on millions, leaving at least five people dead,power grids stressed,flights grounded andwildfires raging.Heat has even been blamed for warping train tracks and causing a derailment near Earlimart, California. <\/p>\n
In order to deal with the extreme temperatures, the National Weather Service suggests drinking plenty of water, limiting outdoor activity and wearing loose and light-colored clothing. <\/p>\n
The NWS also suggests checking on the sick, elderly and those without air conditioning and never leaving children and pets alone in hot vehicles, even for a brief period. <\/p>\n
MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Heat WavePlagues the Southwest <\/p>\n
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NASA Maps Reveal Scope, Intensity of Southwest's Extreme Heat Wave - The Weather Channel<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Story Highlights A prolonged heatwave brought unusually hot temperatures to the Southwest. Maps released by NASA show how abnormal the heat has been Continue reading