Several western states have been issued heat advisories and warnings by the National Weather Service (NWS).
Parts of California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington are all facing a "major heat risk," according to the NWS.
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The NWS warns of an intense, widespread, and long-duration heat wave across the West which could be "extremely dangerous and deadly if not taken seriously."
The agency forecasts dozens of daily record high temperatures throughout the week, in a heat wave which is expected to persist over the region until mid-July.
NWS said that all-time record high temperatures were recorded in Palm Springs, Palmdale, Redding, and Ukiah in California over the weekend.
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The current warnings put in place by the NWS come as California has been hit by wildfires, prompting the evacuations of thousands of residents.
On Wednesday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in Butte County in the wake of the damage caused by the Thompson Fire, saying the state was using "every available tool to tackle this fire & will continue to support impacted communities."
How To Stay Safe in a Heatwave
The NWS lists some symptoms of prolonged exposure to high temperatures as muscle cramps, heavy sweating, headaches, nausea, confusion and loss of consciousness. The service advises people to drink plenty of fluids, stay in air-conditioned rooms, avoid the sun and to check up on relative and neighbors.
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Those undertaking outdoor work are advised by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to schedule frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.
Young children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic medical conditions are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat.
The western heat wave comes as parts of Texas were battered by Hurricane Beryl Monday morning, leaving around 400,000 without power and triggering school closures in dozens of districts.
The National Hurricane Center (NHC) warned of a "life threating" surge that could see water brought up to six feet above ground level in some parts of the state.
Modelling by the NHC forecast that the hurricane could impact a dozen states, including Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
Texas' Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said in a recent press conference that Beryl "will be a deadly storm for people directly on that path," and that "120 Texan counties [could be] in the disaster area."
Do you have a story we should be covering? Do you have any questions about weather forecasts in your state? Do you have any questions about wildfires? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com
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Joe Edwards is a Live News Reporter based in Newsweek's London Bureau. He covers U.S. and global news and has ... Read more
