Millions of people in western states are facing triple-digit temperatures this week. Most valley locales in California and Arizona are expected to see near record highs of 10 to 20 degrees above average.

About 65 million people are under heat alerts including in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Portland and Seattle.

For some workers, the extreme heat wave in Southern California can mean being trapped in a confined space with no air conditioner for hours while those working outside can face risks like heat exhaustion and more serious conditions.

The punishing heat wave microwaving Southern California is expected to bring triple-digit temperatures to much of the region for the next few days.

The latest heat wave to hit Southern California is expected to last throughout the workweek. Extreme temperatures are forecast for communities throughout the Los Angeles region, reaching between 110 and 115 degrees in the San Fernando Valley.

An intense heat wave has brought triple-digit temperatures to much of Los Angeles with downtown LA facing the hottest day of the year as the temperature hit 100 degrees Thursday afternoon.

LOS ANGELES – Southland residents were baking again Thursday with a late-summer heat wave expected to stretch into the weekend, pushing up temperatures and raising fears of wildfires in some areas. “All systems go for what will be a dangerously hot stretch of weather through the weekend,

Temperatures are expected to increase by a few degrees each day, with hazardous heat developing [mid-week] across most areas besides the beaches,” the National Weather Service said Saturday. (Courtesy of the National Weather Service) A looming heat wave in Southern California could break records this week as temperatures are likely to climb well above 100 degrees in parts of the region.

Southland residents were baking again Thursday thanks to a late-summer heat wave expected to stretch into the weekend, pushing up temperatures and raising fears of wildfires in some areas.