Las Vegas reached a new highest temperature on Friday, and Albuquerque matched its previous record. However, meteorologists noted that the intense heat wave affecting much of the U.S. Southwest, with temperatures soaring well over 100 degrees, is beginning to ease.
The National Weather Service predicted slightly cooler conditions over the weekend, although they cautioned this relief would be brief before the unusually hot weather returns next week.
While excessive heat warnings expired across most of the Southwest on Friday evening, Las Vegas still had warnings in effect until Saturday, marking unprecedented heat for this time of year.
According to the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, the region should start experiencing more clouds and somewhat cooler temperatures early next week. However, temperatures are expected to rise again mid-week as high pressure builds up over the area.
A person cools off in a mister (Via Jeremy Kent/Getty Images)
On Friday, Las Vegas hit a high of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, just surpassing the previous record set in 2013. The temperature had reached 111 degrees the day before, matching the earliest occurrence on record for such extreme heat. The weather service anticipates temperatures to drop by 5 to 8 degrees by Sunday.
In Albuquerque, where the typical high at this time of year is 89 degrees Fahrenheit, temperatures reached 100 degrees on Friday, tying a record set in 1981.
Phoenix experienced highs of 113 degrees Fahrenheit on both Thursday and Friday, just 2 degrees short of the daily record. Normally, Phoenix sees highs around 102 degrees at this time of year.
