An oppressive heat wave across much of the western United States had cities and their residents sweltering through conditions this weekend that are normally more common at the height of summer.The blistering heat wave, which has persisted all week throughout California and the desert Southwest, will continue to build and spread east into the central U.S. in the coming days. Temperatures that are 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit above average for this time of year will be common from the Southwest into the Great Plains, according to the National Weather Service.More than 150 daily temperature records and around 50 monthly all-time records have already been shattered since Tuesday, the weather service said, with more expected to fall this weekend and in the coming days.AdvertisementAdvertisementParts of California were well above seasonal averages heading into the weekend, with Death Valley reaching a blistering 105 degrees on Thursday, a new monthly record. Highs are expected to remain well into the triple digits there into next week, according to the National Weather Service.Southern Nevada was similarly grappling with summerlike conditions this weekend. Las Vegas hit 96 degrees on Saturday and is forecast to reach 93 degrees on Sunday. More than 40 daytime cooling stations were opened throughout the city to help people cope with the heat.“While Southern Nevada is no stranger to extreme heat, we are facing an unprecedented heat wave months ahead of the summer season,” Clark County Commissioner Marilyn Kirkpatrick said Wednesday in a statement. “Our bodies are not yet acclimated to these temperatures, and that puts people at greater risk for heat related illnesses.”The Las Vegas office of the National Weather Service urged people to take proper precautions to avoid heat-related illness.AdvertisementAdvertisement“If you’re spending time outdoors, remember to wear sunscreen, eat light meals, and avoid caffeine & alcohol,” the weather service said on X.In Colorado, Fort Collins reached an astounding 91 degrees on Saturday, a new all-time high for March since the city’s recordkeeping began in 1893. The 91-degree milestone also surpassed April’s hottest recorded temperature in Fort Collins by 2 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.“The city hadn’t …
