West Suffers in a Heat Dome as Millions Face Record Heat and Fire Threats

A powerful heat dome blankets the Western U.S. this weekend, with about 55 million people under heat alerts from California, Nevada, and Arizona to the Canadian border. Temperatures are forecast to hit triple digits in many places (Phoenix up to 118°F, Las Vegas around 115°F, LA in the mid-90s), risking dozens of record highs and dangerous overnight heat. Cooling centers are open in major cities as health officials warn of heat-related illness. In the Pacific Northwest, extreme fire danger (Level 3) prompts evacuations near Spokane due to the Old Trails Fire, while wildfire smoke affects multiple states and Canada. Climate change is linked to more intense, longer-lasting heat waves like this one.