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PHOENIX - Even as the summer winds down, Phoenix is still facing extreme heat.
The National Weather Service in Phoenix warned the metropolitan area and parts of south-central Arizona could see potentially record-breaking temperatures this weekend. Areas of southeast California may also be impacted.
Forecasters say an "unseasonably strong" ridge of high pressure will expand across the Southwest, leading once again to temperatures 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius) or higher.
An Excessive Heat Warning has been issued for the following counties:
- La Paz, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, and Yuma County - through 8 p.m. on Aug. 30
- Mohave and Santa Cruz County - through 8 p.m. on Aug. 29
The excessive heat is expected to last through Wednesday.
NWS: Phoenix breaks record high set over a decade ago
It's a day of record-breaking heat for the Phoenix area, according to officials with the National Weather Service.
The weather service is also urging people not to do strenuous physical activities during the hottest times of the day.
While Phoenix is known for its heat, the city and its surrounding suburbs have endured an especially brutal summer. The desert city saw a 31-day streak of 110 degrees (43 degrees Celsius) or more that began June 30. The previous record was 18 straight days, set in 1974.
It was part of a historic heat wave that stretched from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into California’s desert.
It's not just the saguaros. Agaves in Arizona are melting from the heat
Agave plants in Arizona are collapsing due to the extreme heat. "One day it will look beautiful, the next morning - done. Flat as a pancake."
You can check the latest weather conditions by visiting the FOX 10 Phoenix weather page, or download the Free FOX 10 Weather app, which is available on Apple iOS and Android.
Preventing heat exhaustion/heat stroke
The Arizona Department of Health Services stated the following precautions can be taken to prevent heat exhaustion or heat stroke:
- Stay in air-conditioned buildings
- Find a cooling center/hydration station
- Limit outdoor activity during the hottest part of the day (mid-day)
- Check on at-risk friends, family, and neighbors at least twice a day
- Check the UV Index
- Check the heat risk map
- Drink water before, during, and after working or exercising outside