The excessive heat warning that hit Phoenix on June 30 is likely to continue into next week and become the longest heat wave on record, according to the National Weather Service.

Threat level: Phoenix will break the record 18-day streak of 110-plus-degree days if the heat wave continues through July 18 — which is well within the realm of possibility, NWS meteorologist Gabriel Lojero tells Axios Phoenix.

• "It appears as an exaggeration, but unfortunately based on what we're seeing ... it's just an extremely high-confidence forecast. It's very important that people take this seriously," Lojero says.

Why it matters: 425 people suffered heat-associated deaths in metro Phoenix last summer. Unhoused, elderly and chronically ill people are more likely to die or be hospitalized because of heat.

• A recent study predicted half of Phoenix residents would need emergency medical attention if a multiday blackout were to coincide with a heat wave.

What's happening: A high-pressure system is sitting directly over the Valley, keeping temperatures high and heat-relieving storms away, Lojero says. Temperatures are likely to increase throughout this week as the heat dome intensifies.

• Moisture is forecast to increase this week but not enough to trigger precipitation. Instead, the moisture will actually increase overnight temperatures and keep low temperatures in the 90s, he says.

What's next: NWS extended the excessive heat warning through Sunday, but Lojero says it could persist even longer.

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.

Be smart: Drink water constantly, wear light, loose-fitting clothes and avoid strenuous outdoor activities from 10am to 6pm. Have a plan in case of an AC outage.

• There are dozens of cooling centers and hydration stations throughout Maricopa County.

Keep reading

The plight of a female Mexican gray wolf who recently traveled into historically Hispanic ranching territory highlights the battle pitting environmentalists against ranchers, Axios' Russell Conreras reports.

The big picture: Hispanic ranchers in the Southwest have been at odds for centuries with the federal government around grazing and water rights. Conservation efforts for endangered species are adding to tensions.

Details: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last month it had relocated an endangered female Mexican gray wolf back into the Arizona wild after she traveled some 500 miles into ranch lands near Taos, New Mexico — well beyond the area where packs are designated to live.

• Those ranch lands are governed by land grants from colonial Spain and protected under the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo — but ranchers say the government ignores their rights in the name of conservation.

Catch up fast: The Mexican wolf, or lobo, once roamed from central and northern Mexico to western Texas, southern New Mexico and central Arizona until it was eradicated by trapping, hunting and poisoning to protect livestock.

• The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the wolf as an endangered species in 1976.
• In 1998, the agency reintroduced the wolf into a designated area in Arizona and New Mexico. There were 241 Mexican wolves in the two states as of February.

Go deeper: U.S. government rejects protection for coyotes, which are sometimes mistaken for endangered Mexican wolves

What they're saying: Ranchers complain that the predators sometimes kill livestock and that the federal government doesn't adequately compensate them for lost income.

Between the lines: Hispanic ranchers and farmers are facing many pressures threatening their way of life: Few people are getting into traditional ranching, drought is raising costs and long-standing conflicts with the U.S. government have not been resolved.

The other side

✈️ Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and other city officials are in Asia meeting with semiconductor supply chain companies that are interested in moving to Phoenix. She's also advocating for nonstop flights between Phoenix and Asia. (AZcentral)

🧑‍⚖️ Former Arizona assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright claims Attorney General Kris Mayes defamed her and is seeking $2 million from her office. Mayes told the Arizona Republic she fired Wright, who ran the office's election integrity unit. Wright says she resigned. (KTAR)

💦 An $18 million renovation at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge is now open and features an enhanced lazy river and three new water slides. (Phoenix Business Journal)

We are one week away from our Axios Phoenix birthday bash!

What's happening: Join us July 17 from 5 to 6pm at Greenwood Brewing on Roosevelt Row in downtown Phoenix.

• We're buying a beer for the first 50 people who arrive, and any member who attends will have a chance to win an awesome Axios Phoenix tote bag.
• P.S.: It's not too late to become a member. 😉

RSVP: Space is limited. Make sure to RSVP here!

Of note: This is mainly an outdoor event. We are monitoring the weather and will keep you updated with any changes.

State of play: We're hosting a panel, supported by Local First Arizona, to highlight local businesses that are also blooming and blossoming in the desert.

• Phoenix Coqui: Founder Alexis Carbajal will share how he transformed his Puerto Rican food truck into a brick-and-mortar restaurant.
• Straw & Wool: Co-founder Henry Dickerson will talk about running a hat shop on Roosevelt Row.
• Sunshine Craft Co: Get crafty with founder Amy Guerrero, who runs a workshop studio in Melrose.
• Greenwood Brewing: Megan Greenwood, the founder and namesake of our host, will share what it's like to be a female leader in the craft beer world.

⏰ Don't be late: Our panel discussion will begin at 5:20pm.

Tell a buddy, bring a buddy