LOS ANGELES, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- An exceptional late-season heat wave is scorching parts of U.S. southwestern regions with record-breaking temperatures expected to last into the weekend.
"More than 70 record high temperatures are set to fall - mainly in the southwestern U.S. - today through the weekend," said the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) on Friday.
The heat wave continues over parts of central and southern California and the Desert Southwest, according to NWS.
Forecasters said the sweltering late-season heat wave will bring moderate to extreme heat risks across portions of the U.S. Southwest. About 39 million people in the region were under heat alerts earlier this week.
NWS extended excessive heat alerts for areas near major cities, including Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
The weather service urged the public to take proper precautions working or playing outdoors, like drinking plenty of water and taking frequent rests in the shade.
