"Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Western U.S., Breaking Records in Phoenix and Las Vegas"
Millions of Americans are under heat warnings and watches as a searing heat wave engulfs the West Coast, the Great Basin, and the Southwest. Multiple cities are expected to shatter heat records, with temperatures forecasted to reach 130 degrees in Death Valley, California. Scientists attribute the record-breaking heat to climate change caused by fossil fuel emissions. The heat wave is intensifying, with excessive heat warnings and advisories affecting over 34 million people. High humidity in the Plains and Southeast will make temperatures feel even more brutal, and the heat wave is expected to persist through the weekend and into next week. Officials warn of the dangers of heat exposure, as heat-related deaths are the leading cause of weather-related fatalities.