"Scorching Southwest Heat Wave Sweeps Across the Nation"

A heat wave that has been simmering in parts of the Southwest since spring is expected to expand into the central and eastern parts of the United States for the last week of July. The National Weather Service has issued excessive heat warnings and advisories for a wide swath of the country, including California, Texas, Florida, and several other states. The heat wave's expansion may be dampened by thunderstorms in certain regions. This prolonged summer warmth is consistent with the effects of global warming, according to scientists.