A brutal heat wave is expected to scorch the southwestern U.S. this week, with some cities likely to see all-time record high temperatures. The National Weather Service said this will likely be one of the most intense heat waves seen in many years across desert Southwest, including parts of California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Mashable. </s> PHOENIX (AP) — The Latest on an extreme heat wave in the Southwest U.S. (all times local):

American Airlines says seven regional flights have been delayed and 43 have been canceled because of a heat wave threatening to bring 120 degrees to Phoenix.

The disruptions came Tuesday. The airline says it doesn’t expect any more issues Wednesday but officials will re-evaluate.

The National Weather Service forecasts a high of 120 degrees (49 degrees Celsius), which is has only hit three times in recorded history — the last time 22 years ago.

Arizona is seeing some of the most dramatic temperatures Tuesday, but the heat wave is being felt across Nevada and California, too.

The first day of summer is forecast to bring some of the worst heat the southwestern U.S. has seen in years.

The forecast calls for 119 degrees in Phoenix, where some flights have been cancelled because certain planes can’t take off in extreme heat.

Arizona is seeing the most stifling temperatures, but the wrath of the heat wave is being felt across Nevada and California as well.

Las Vegas was forecast to hit 117 (47 Celsius) on Tuesday and excessive heat warnings cover almost all of California. </s> The hundreds of thousands of people likely to visit local beaches this Fourth of July week will be met by large waves expected to build late Wednesday and last through Friday.

Another type of wave — a heat wave — is also on its way. Temperatures are expected to hit or exceed the century mark in many parts of Southern California in the coming days, including downtown L.A. Inland valley and foothill areas are expected to be even hotter. Those broiling conditions are expected to last through the weekend.

The heat wave could bring record temperatures to some areas, the National Weather Service says.

The sizable surf is the result of Hurricane Fabio, which on Tuesday was more than 600 miles southwest of Mexico’s Baja California peninsula, according to the weather service. </s> (Reuters) - A heat wave blanketing the northeastern United States is expected to move west after the Fourth of July, bringing dangerous temperatures as far as southern California, the National Weather Service (NWS) said on Tuesday.

An excessive heat warning is in effect through Tuesday night, with heat index values – which combine temperature and humidity – in New York City reaching 106 degrees Fahrenheit (41°C).

A seven-day heat wave, which the NWS said occurs approximately once every 33 years, began in New York on Saturday. Parts of New England experienced record-setting temperatures over the weekend, said Dan Petersen, an NWS meteorologist.

At least one heat-related death has been reported since the heat wave began late last week - a Pennsylvania woman who died while working in her garden on Saturday. Another death, of an elderly man in Kansas City, was being investigated.

For the Fourth of July holiday, Petersen warned people celebrating outside to remain in the shade and drink plenty of fluids.

“Anyone outside in locations with expanded areas of heat is going to have to take precautions,” Petersen said. “This is the peak of summer – the hottest time of the year.”

The NWS also issued an air quality alert on Tuesday, warning of excessive pollution levels in the New York area into the evening hours.

But later this week, a storm front is expected to roll through and cool down the eastern seaboard for the weekend, Petersen said, providing relief to Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia on Friday night before heading down to the Carolinas.

In a reversal of normal patterns, Petersen said, the hot weather will head west, hitting the central United States late in the week before reaching Los Angeles and San Diego on Friday.

“The central part of the country is going to get hot and humid,” Petersen said. “In Southern California, the heat coming out of the deserts will expand and go into the valley areas.” </s> WWJ – The heat is on along the west coast with record highs expected. Excessive heat warnings are in effect for parts of Arizona, California and Nevada with temperatures expected to peak at 117 to 122 degrees early this week.

Large cities such as Phoenix and Tucson in Arizona, Las Vegas in Nevada and Sacramento in California have already issued warnings on the heat wave that could last up to 10 days.

Multiple cities in the bay area of California already hit record high temperatures on Sunday and it’s expected to only get hotter.

“We’ve never seen these temperatures in the bay area and rarely see them in southern California,” San Francisco reporter Holly Quan told WWJ. “Southern California, though, they are expecting what they call unhealthy air in parts of San Gabriel Valley and the San Fernando Valley. They are telling people just don’t even go outside during the peak hours of the day. They just don’t want you outside, children and seniors (especially).”

Quan added that cooling centers are being set up for those who don’t have air conditioning.

“They are even telling you go to the movies, go to the mall, do something,” Quan said. “Don’t sit in your house because they are worried people will be complacent inside, close their drapes then it gets really (hot) and then bad things happen.”

According to Aljazeera, the overnight temperatures won’t drop like normal, leading to heat-related illnesses. Lack of overnight cooling is often the cause of heat-related illnesses.

In the meantime American Airlines is warning passengers that it may have to ground flights in Phoenix during the heat wave. The airline is letting Phoenix passengers flying during the peak heat today through Wednesday to change flights without a fee. </s> PHOENIX (AP) – The first day of summer is forecast to bring some of the worst heat the southwestern U.S. has seen in years.

The forecast calls for 119 degrees in Phoenix, where some flights have been canceled because certain planes can’t take off in extreme heat.

Arizona is seeing the most stifling temperatures, but the wrath of the heat wave is being felt across Nevada and California as well.

Las Vegas was forecast to hit 117 (47 Celsius) on Tuesday and excessive heat warnings cover almost all of California. </s> PHOENIX (AP) — A punishing heat wave has arrived in the Southwestern U.S. and brought temperatures that will approach 120 degrees in Arizona — a number not seen in the desert city in more than 20 years.

Arizona is seeing the most stifling temperatures, but the wrath of the heat wave is being felt across Nevada and California as well. Las Vegas was forecast to hit 117 on Tuesday on the first day of summer, and excessive heat warnings cover almost all of California.

Airlines canceled flights in Phoenix because the extreme heat makes it too difficult to take off. The major burn center in Arizona urged people to be careful around concrete, playground equipment and vehicle interiors. The National Park Service warned visitors to not to hike into the Grand Canyon because of excessive heat.

Despite the dangers, the heat may not be as bad as originally expected. The weather service had been forecasting Tuesday highs at 120 or 121 degrees in Phoenix for the past several days, but it now predicts 119.

“That’s deadly heat no matter how you slice it,” National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Breckenridge said.

Here are a few things to know about the heat wave:

Phoenix and Las Vegas are used to 110-degree heat, but temperatures above 115 are rare.

Phoenix has hit 118 degrees 11 times, most recently last summer. The last time it reached 120 was in 1995. A notorious heat wave in 1990 brought consecutive days at 120 degrees, including the record of 122.

Las Vegas is forecast to hit 114 on Monday and tie a record high of 117 degrees on Tuesday — last recorded in 2013.

The heat is spread across California. The Central Valley has been baking in unusually bad heat, and the Northern California city of Redding hit a June 18 record of 110 degrees on Sunday — 19 degrees above the normal.

It could be worse: Death Valley could see 124 degrees on Tuesday.

When the temperature soars, it’s harder for airplanes to take off.

As a result, airlines are taking the heat seriously.

American Airlines cancelled nearly 40 flights on Tuesday in Phoenix operated by regional jets because of the heat. The airline also said it will allow Phoenix passengers flying during the peak heat Monday through Wednesday to change flights without a fee.

American Airlines spokesman Ross Feinstein said the smaller regional jets flown by its partners can’t operate once the temperature hits 118 degrees. That maximum is set by Bombardier, the manufacturer. Larger airliners made by Boeing and Airbus have higher maximum operating temperatures, but airlines still need to closely monitor the weight of the jets during the heat.

Feinstein said the carrier began limiting sales on some flights to prevent the planes from exceeding maximum weight for safe takeoff in the hot conditions. Airlines can use other strategies for dealing with limitation on the planes during hot weather, such as not fueling completely to make the plane lighter for takeoff, then making a refueling stop.

Las Vegas visitors should be aware of a little-known fact about the temperatures in the gambling mecca: The Strip is often hotter than the rest of the city.

Meteorologist Ashley Allen with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas says the city’s airport is forecast to hit 114 on Monday, but temperatures on the Strip could reach somewhere between 115 and 120 degrees.

Allen says the Las Vegas Strip’s tall, close buildings and long stretches of concrete cause the area to heat quickly and cool slowly. She says it’s hard to predict exactly how hot the Strip will get because the Weather Service does not get official readings there.

It gets so hot in Phoenix that stores put coverings over door handles so people don’t burn their hands. Steering wheels and car shifters can be too hot to touch when getting into a car. And the pavement can burn the paws of pets.

The director of the Arizona Burn Center said second- and third-degree burns from touching hot items are common in the extreme heat. Dr. Kevin Foster warned people to be extra careful around concrete, car interiors and playground equipment, especially young children who have sensitive skin.

Pavement and concrete can be dangerous for pets, Foster said.

The heat is a serious public health hazard in places such as Phoenix and Las Vegas.

The county that is home to Phoenix had 130 heat-related deaths in 2016, the highest number in more than a decade. The Arizona Department of Health Services says nearly 2,000 people visit Arizona emergency rooms every year because of heat-related illnesses.

Homeless people comprised one-third of heat-related deaths in 2016, according to county records. Most of the others involved people with non-functioning air conditioners.

Kurt Dickson, an emergency room doctor at Banner Health in Phoenix, said people have a range of heat illnesses during the summer months, including fatigue, heatstroke and severe sun burns. </s> San Francisco (CNN) It's so hot in the West that the scorching heat is breaking records, causing massive power outages and prompting flight cancellations.

On Tuesday, Phoenix hit a daily record reaching 119 degrees Fahrenheit, which ranked as the fourth hottest day on record for the Arizona city. Death Valley, California, lived up to its name as it set a daily record at a high of 127 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

It was a scorcher! Here's a look at some of the records beat or tied, some of which were all time records! #nvwx #cawx #azwx #VegasWeather pic.twitter.com/eMb7HgvvjI

Excessive heat warnings have been issued for inland California, southern Nevada and parts of southwest Arizona until Friday. More than 29 million residents in California are under a heat warning or advisory.

Here's how the sweltering heat wave is affecting the West:

1. Some planes can't fly

The heat wave was already affecting travel in Phoenix, American Airlines canceled 43 flights Tuesday to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport due to extreme heat, the airline said.

There could be more cancellations later Tuesday, an airline spokesman said. Seven flights were canceled due to weather on Monday, when the temperature reached 118 degrees, rounding out the total to 50 weather-related cancellations in two days.

Some smaller regional jets cannot take off in temperatures hotter than 117 degrees, it said in a statement.

"Our smaller regional operations -- those that use our CRJ aircraft types -- will be most affected by the heat," the airline's communication specialist Kent Powell told CNN. "We really aren't expecting any change to the operation with our mainline aircraft."

Because hotter air is thinner, planes also need more speed to take off and, thus, require more runway. Sky Harbor's runways are long enough to accommodate most planes in hot weather, American Airlines said.

2. Heat records are being shattered

-- In Phoenix, the 118 degrees on Monday tied the record set exactly a year ago.

Today's high of 118F in #Phoenix ties the record set 1 year ago. If we hit our forecast highs Tue & Wed it would set 2 new records. #azheat pic.twitter.com/REMwhT2FQP — NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) June 20, 2017

-- On Sunday, several Northern California cities -- including Sacramento (106 degrees), San Jose (103 degrees) and San Francisco (88 degrees) -- saw record hot temperatures.

-- The record-breaking continued Monday with Sacramento hitting 107 degrees, a step hotter than its 106-degree record from 1988. It could get even hotter on Wednesday, with a forecast temperature of 109 degrees.

High temperatures looking to surpass the new record of 106 degrees on Sunday.

-- On Monday, Stockton, California, saw a record high of 109 degrees and Lancaster in southern part of the state had 110 degrees.

3. Wildfires are burning

Firefighters across California are battling several fires, including one near Big Bear spreading to 950 acres. They dealt with a grass fire in Sacramento that broke out during Monday's evening commute.

Cal Fire warned of high fire danger with hot and dry conditions.

4. Power is being knocked out

Power outages have been reported over the last few days in California's Central Valley, the Bay Area and southern parts of the state.

As temperatures increase, more people turn on air conditioners, which use a lot of electricity and can strain the power system.

5. Roads buckle under the heat

The heat could've been a factor as four lanes of Highway 50 in West Sacramento began to buckle on Sunday. Drivers reported the giant cracks forming on the road and the lanes were repaired, reported CNN affiliate KGO.

What it actually feels like outside when you take into account the humidity and high temperature.

How to beat the heat

JUST WATCHED What NOT to do in a heat wave Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What NOT to do in a heat wave 01:14

Heat kills more people in the United States than any other type of weather , so take precautions.

If you can't avoid being outside and staying close to air conditioning, here are some ways to beat the heat:

-- Never leave your car locked or unattended without checking for pets and children inside.

-- Hydrate with water, avoiding sugary drinks and alcohol.

-- Wear light-colored clothing, which can hold down your body temperature several degrees.

-- Wear sunscreen SPF 15 or higher to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

-- Don't forget to check on neighbors, friends and family, especially the young and the elderly, who are at more risk of heath damage from excessive heat. </s> LOS ANGELES (AP) - Forecasters say a Southern California heat wave will be one for the record books.

Most of the normally temperate region is expected to broil in triple digits Friday and Saturday before getting some relief.

The heat is caused by a massive dome of high pressure, which also is expected to spread oppressive conditions into parts of Arizona, Nevada and Utah. Hot weather has stoked wildfires in the U.S. West.

Early morning joggers try to beat the heat as they run along Echo Park Lake near downtown Los Angeles on Friday, July 6, 2018. Forecasters say temperatures will soar into triple digits throughout almost all of Southern California as a brief but intense heat wave broils the region. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

In Southern California, the National Weather Service says numerous places saw temperatures above 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius) before dawn. At 3 a.m., it was 98 degrees in Gaviota on the Santa Barbara County coast, about 125 miles (201 kilometers) west of Los Angeles.

Officials are urging seniors and the very young to use public facilities designated as "cooling centers."

Early morning joggers try to beat the heat as they run along Echo Park Lake near downtown Los Angeles on Friday, July 6, 2018. Forecasters say temperatures will soar into triple digits throughout almost all of Southern California as a brief but intense heat wave broils the region. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
A heat wave strikes the Western U.S. states of Arizona, California, and Nevada. It is predicted to last until June 23.