Tracking increasing temperatures with extreme heat beginning Wednesday
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - We're tracking another warm and sunny day across the region on Tuesday, with temperatures staying in the triple-digits before extreme heat conditions arrive Wednesday.
Yuma is expected to reach a high near 103°F today under sunny skies. Winds will remain light, with a slight breeze around five miles per hour (MPH) developing Tuesday afternoon.
El Centro will be slightly warmer, with a high near 104°F and mostly light winds.
By Tuesday night, skies will remain clear across the region, but temperatures will only fall to around 80 degrees in Yuma and 76 degrees in El Centro.
The heat ramps up even further Wednesday.
An Extreme Heat Warning takes effect at 10 a.m. Wednesday for Yuma and the Fortuna Foothills and will remain in place through 8 p.m. Friday.
The warning was upgraded from an Extreme Heat Watch issued earlier this week as temperatures are expected to reach near-record levels, bringing Major HeatRisk to the region.
Yuma high temperatures are forecasted to reach 104°F Wednesday, followed by 105°F Thursday and back to 104°F on Friday.
Imperial County will see a similar stretch of extreme heat. El Centro is expected to reach 105°F Wednesday, 106°F Thursday and 105°F Friday.
Eastern Yuma County, including Wellton, Tacna and Dateland, is also under an Extreme Heat Warning, with that warning in effect through 8 p.m. Thursday.
Overnight temperatures will provide limited relief, with lows remaining in the upper 70s to around 80 degrees through the end of the week.
Winds will generally stay light, with speeds around five MPH through much of the week across the region.
The Desert Southwest will also remain dry, with rain chances staying near zero through at least the end of the work week.
Overall, we're tracking above-normal temperatures with minimal day-to-day changes through Friday.
There could finally be some relief this weekend, as a cooler and more unsettled weather pattern potentially moves into the region through early next week.
With Major HeatRisk in place beginning Wednesday, heat-related illnesses become significantly more likely.
Residents should stay hydrated, limit strenuous outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day and seek air conditioning or shade whenever possible.
