"Dangerous" temps coming to Utah as southwest heat wave intensifies

A heat wave is coming this weekend, as Utah feels the effects of the scorching heat dome that's slow-cooking the southwest.

Driving the news: The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat watch for Sunday afternoon through Monday evening from the Wasatch Front to Nevada, with highs around 104°F and unusually warm nights, too.

• Travelers be warned: St. George and the Lake Powell area are both under an excessive heat warning from Saturday morning to Monday night, with temps up to 115°F.

What's happening: A high-pressure system is hovering over the southwest, bringing record-crushing temperatures that are expected to last well into next week, Axios' Andrew Freedman reports.

• It's causing temperatures to rise from Florida to California and north into the Great Basin.

The big picture: Climate change has led to longer, hotter and more frequent heat waves around the world, including in the Southwest.

• Four consecutive days last week broke or tied records as Earth's hottest day since at least 1940 and likely far longer, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data.
• Last month was the globe's warmest June, also since at least 1940, and the month shattered records for the warmest global sea surface temperatures.

Be smart: Extreme heat is the top weather-related killer during an average year in the U.S., per the NWS.

• Heat waves are even deadlier when temperatures don't drop significantly at night.
• Stay hydrated, wear light clothing, seek frequent refuge in air conditioning or shade, and try to stay indoors from 10am to 4pm, NWS warned Wednesday.