Buckle up, folks! It seems Mother Nature has cranked up the thermostat and lost the remote. A weeklong heat wave has been turning the Western U.S. into a veritable furnace, and it’s not sparing anyone. People are sweating buckets, ice cream is melting faster than you can say “heat dome,” and tragically, dozens have lost their lives.

Over 50 cities in California and Nevada have been competing in what seems like a bizarre contest to break all-time heat records, with the first five days of July smashing previous highs like egg yolks on a scorching sidewalk. According to AccuWeather, some poor souls have experienced temperatures up to 20 degrees above the historical norms. Yikes!

But wait, there’s more! This sizzling heat dome is apparently packing its bags and heading east. Yes, friends in the Great Plains, you’re next in line for this relentless sunbath. Salt Lake City might challenge its all-time record of 107 degrees, and Denver won’t see anything south of 100 degrees this weekend. Prepare your fans and ice packs, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

All-Time Heat Records Broken

Let’s take a moment to look at some jaw-dropping records set during this inferno of a heat wave. Forecast maps from the federal Climate Prediction Center paint a grim picture, predicting above-average temperatures for days and weeks to come.

The weather pattern for next week “favors above-normal temperatures for nearly the entire continental U.S. and Hawaii.” As if that’s not enough, “The strongest chances for above-normal temperatures are in the Southeast and the northern Intermountain West,” the center ominously declares.

This Is Not Normal

Now, let’s be clear, summers are supposed to be hot, but not like this! We’re in uncharted territory here. June marked the 13th straight month of record-warm temperatures globally, according to the Copernicus Climate Change Service. That means we’ve been living through the hottest streak ever recorded for more than a year. And don’t even get me started on 2023. A study published last year found it to be the hottest summer in 2,000 years. Yeah, you read that right, 2,000 years!

With deadly consequences, heat-related fatalities surpass those from hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined. About 1,220 people in the U.S. die annually from heat, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The latest rampage of this heat wave has already claimed the lives of at least 28 people, says ABC News.

Experts are fervently urging everyone to protect themselves. So, stay hydrated, find some shade, and for heaven’s sake, check on your neighbors. This heatwave isn’t just breaking records; it’s breaking spirits too. Stay safe out there!