A heat dome is bringing dangerous temperatures to Pheonix, delivering triple digits on Tuesday to America's hottest city.
The Arizona capital felt a sweltering high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit and has fire crews on high alert this week as Phoenix is expected to reach record-breaking temperatures.
Fire restrictions went into effect before Memorial Day in some areas and will be ordered by Thursday across much of the western and south-central parts of the state.
Typically, the heat doesn't reach these highs until mid- to late-June.
"It does seem like Mother Nature is turning up the heat on us a little sooner than usual," said Tiffany Davila, a spokesperson for the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.
Last summer, Phoenix recorded 31 consecutive days of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit, according to The Associated Press.
As the heat intensifies, so does Phoenix's homeless crisis, as those sheltering in downtown areas often lack sufficient access to necessities such as water, shade, and air conditioning.
Governments are working to collect more money in an effort to keep cooling stations open longer and throughout weekends, including two stations that will remain open overnight.
Mayor John Giles of the city of Mesa, just east of Phoenix, said officials are "committed to ensuring that those most vulnerable to heat exposure have access to essential life-saving services, including hydration and cooling stations and daytime respite centers."
Recent studies have warned far more dangerous conditions loom based on the pace and extent of greenhouse gas emission cuts, reported Axios.
The Climate Central's Shift Index, which measures the influence of climate change on daily weather conditions, revals that "over 229 million people across North America will experience extreme heat made at least three times more likely because of human-caused climate change" between June 5 and 7.
Metro Phoenix will most likely be in the triple digits all week, with high temperatures peaking at a forecasted 114 degrees on Thursday, said AZ Central.
An excessive heat warning has been issued for most of the U.S. Southwest.
