The dangerous heat wave continues to grip the southwest on Sunday. In fact, temperatures are likely to rise on Sunday into the low 100s in portions of Southern California and Arizona. Records for daytime highs continue to fall in the region.

RADAR: Interactive Radar

Because of the heat and dry air, wildfire concerns are obvious, snowmelt will result in raising river and stream levels – snow packs will likely become unstable (hence avalanche risk is also heightened). The daytime high for Yuma, Arizona, will likely reach 105 degrees today, 108 on Monday and 106 on Tuesday. Relative “cooling” will take place by Wednesday – dropping down into the 90s midweek.

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The ridge of high pressure is likely to break down by Tuesday. To the Northwest, temperatures there, too, remain elevated, and then some. Medford, Oregon, reached a record high of 102 on Friday! Sunday the heat is still on. The high will “drop” to 94! More seasonal daytime highs for much of the sizzling West (especially the northwest) by the midweek are in store. In the meanwhile, for at least the next 48 hours, heat warnings and watches, along with red flag warnings are likely to be issued (a continuance) for much of the west.

For extreme heat-prone areas, residents should guard against inadvertently starting fires. The fire hazard in SoCal, for example, is very high and ongoing. To avoid heat stroke and/or exhaustion, try to stay hydrated throughout the day, stay out of the sun for prolonged periods of time; pay close attention to signs of laboring with respect to the very young and very old. Do not overexert yourself.

REGIONS: EAST | SOUTH | MIDWEST | WEST

More showers are expected in the Northeast. Cooler air will sweep across the Great Lakes, upper Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic and New England states as a cold front advances also bring showers and a thunderstorm or too. Expect a quarter on an inch to a half-inch in total over the next 24-36 hours.

The rest of the country is relatively quiet and warm. The Central Plains, in particular, will combine above-seasonal warmth (but not scorching heat like the extreme Southwest) with loads of sunshine. Our friends in Omaha, Neb., will enjoy mostly sunny skies and a fair, comfortable 75.