Millions Across Three States Warned To Stay Indoors

National Weather Service (NWS) meteorologists are advising more than 2 million people in Southern Nevada, Southeast California, and Northwest Arizona to stay inside during the hottest part of the day on Tuesday amid “dangerously hot conditions.”

NWS meteorologist Andrew Gorelow, who works at the Las Vegas office, told Newsweek that temperatures are trending around 10 degrees above normal for this time of year.

“It is a little bit unusual for this time of year,” he said.

Why It Matters

The unseasonable surge in temperatures prompting heat advisories and extreme heat warnings has hit states in the Pacific Northwest and U.S. Southwest early this week. In a Tuesday morning forecast, the NWS said the temperatures could hit record levels and would increase the chance of heat-related illnesses.

In some cases, the heat is so extreme that people are asked to stay indoors until cooler temperatures arrive.

What to Know

The NWS office in Las Vegas issued an extreme heat warning for the following areas on Tuesday morning: the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Death Valley National Park, Western Mojave Desert, Northeast Clark County, Western Clark and
Southern Nye County and Las Vegas Valley.

A stock image shows a person drinking water under a hot sun.
A stock image shows a person drinking water under a hot sun.
AntonioGulliem/Getty

The warnings encompassed parts of California, Nevada and Arizona, totaling more than 2.3 million people in the cities of Oatman, Boulder City, North Las Vegas, Laughlin, Fort Irwin, Bullhead City, Las Vegas, Desert Rock, Daggett, Furnace Creek, Hoover Dam, Barstow, Shoshone, Overton, Mohave Valley, Pahrump, Amargosa Valley, Indian Springs, Moapa, Henderson, Stovepipe Wells and Mesquite.

Temperatures could hit up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit in Las Vegas, and they could surge even higher to 120 degrees at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. People are urged to limit their time outdoors during the hottest part of the day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

To combat the increased risk of heat-related illnesses, the extreme heat warning urged people to “drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun and check up on relatives and neighbors,” adding: “Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.”

Outdoor workers are also urged to take precautions, such as taking frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments. Gorelow said unhoused people also are particularly at risk from heat-related impacts.

What People Are Saying

Gorelow told Newsweek: “By middle summer around here, people are well acclimated to the heat, but since it is early season, people are not acclimated quite yet.”

NWS Las Vegas said in an extreme heat warning: “Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose-fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.”

What Happens Next

The warning will remain in effect until late Tuesday night and will likely not be extended, Gorelow said. Temperatures could trend high for the foreseeable future, with the NWS Climate Prediction Center anticipating a chance at above-average temperatures for the U.S. Southwest in its eight to 14-day outlook, which is valid from June 17 to June 23.