Western U.S. heat wave shatters records and sparks wildfire evacuations
The National Weather Service said the heat wave that swept the western United States on July 27, 2026 set temperature records in several states and forced wildfire evacuations in the Pacific Northwest, while officials warned residents of heat-related health risks. Earlier in the week, forecasters noted a shifting heat dome that pushed temperatures above 119 °F in California and triggered extreme-heat alerts for more than 42 million people across the southern United States. A subsequent forecast warned the dome would raise temperatures 10-20 °F above normal throughout the western region, affecting millions.
The service later projected highs of 115-120 °F in the Southwest and triple-digit readings inland. A high-pressure ridge extended near-record heat from Arizona to Montana, prompting heat advisories, increased use of cooling centers and heightened fire-danger measures. By the end of the period, extreme-heat warnings covered about 55 million people from California to Montana.
