Extreme Heat Alerts: Take Caution

Visitors to Las Vegas were greeted with scorching temperatures on Friday as they stepped out of their air-conditioned hotels to snap photos. The blast-furnace air hit them like a wave, reminding them of the vastly different climate they would experience indoors at the casinos, where the chilly air conditioning might even require a light sweater. However, while tourists were enjoying their vacations, emergency room doctors in the city were witnessing a completely different world. With temperatures threatening to break the city's all-time record high of 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47.2 degrees Celsius) over the weekend, construction workers, elderly residents, and others were suffering from dehydration and passing out. The surreal contrast between the indoor and outdoor life in Las Vegas was becoming more apparent as people sought refuge in the neon-lit city's resorts, casinos, swimming pools, indoor nightclubs, and shopping centers. The scorching heatwave was not limited to Las Vegas alone. Tens of millions of people across California and the Southwest were also scrambling for ways to stay cool and safe. The National Weather Service had been warning about this building heatwave for a week, and now the most intense period was beginning. Nearly a third of Americans were under extreme heat advisories, watches, and warnings. As the temperatures soared, desert regions in Nevada, Arizona, and California were predicted to reach record-breaking highs of over 120 degrees Fahrenheit (48.8 degrees Celsius) during the day, with overnight temperatures remaining above 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 degrees Celsius). The National Weather Service in Las Vegas urged residents and visitors not to underestimate the danger, emphasizing that this heatwave was not the typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, and warm nights. Despite the oppressive heat, some visitors, like Sergio Cajamarca and his family, were determined to enjoy their time in Las Vegas. Cajamarca, an electrician from Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, expressed his love for the city but admitted that the heat was a challenge. His daughter, Kathy Zhagui, shared her recipe for relief, which included staying hydrated, enjoying ice cream, and staying indoors. However, officials in Phoenix were gravely concerned about the worsening conditions. The city marked its 15th consecutive day of temperatures exceeding 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) on Friday, with late afternoon temperatures reaching 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.6 degrees Celsius). This put Phoenix on track to potentially break the record for the longest measured stretch of such extreme heat, which currently stands at 18 days since 1974. David Hondula, the city's chief heat officer, emphasized the need for maximum community vigilance during this unprecedented heatwave. As the high pressure dome responsible for the scorching conditions moved west from Texas, meteorologists warned that the heat would continue well into the following week. Dr. Ashkan Morim, an ER doctor at Dignity Health Siena Hospital in Las Vegas, reported a surge in heat-related illnesses, including dehydration and heat exhaustion. The medical community urged everyone, including those living in the desert, to take this heatwave seriously and take necessary precautions to stay safe.