- A monster heat dome is set to engulf a vast swath of the US, sending temperatures into the triple digits for days.
The heat will stretch from Arizona and Texas through to the Plains and northern Rockies while fueling thunderstorms along its eastern edge.
AccuWeather meteorologists predicted the lowest temperature will be 101°F in Denver, Colorado but the highest will be experienced in Phoenix, Arizona where it will be 119°F - hotter than the Sahara.
The hottest conditions are expected from Friday through Monday, with temperatures climbing 10 to 20 degrees above historical averages.
Many locations across the southern Plains could reach 100°F or higher for several consecutive days, while AccuWeather RealFeel temperatures are forecast to soar to between 105°F and 110°F.
'RealFeel Temperatures in that range are considered 'dangerous' and, according to the scale, can lead to heat cramps, heat exhaustion or heatstroke in individuals exposed to them for extended periods,' AccuWeather said.
Phoenix will bear the brunt of the heat, with temperatures forecast to reach 117°F Friday before soaring to 119°F Saturday.
AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Joe Lundberg said: 'The core of the brutal heat will gradually shift out of Montana and the Dakotas through Sunday and head farther south and east as we go into next week.'
Amarillo, Texas, could hit 105°F Monday and 106°F Tuesday, while Billings, Montana, is forecast to reach 106°F Friday, 104°F Saturday and 102°F Sunday.
Rapid City, South Dakota, could also reach 106°F Saturday before temperatures dip slightly to 104°F Sunday.
Denver is expected to hit 100°F Saturday and 101°F Sunday, while Salt Lake City could endure highs of 104°F throughout the weekend.
The heat dome will retreat westward, but forecasters warn it is unlikely to stay there for the rest of the summer.
Until then, more temperature records could fall in cities including Billings, Montana, and Bismarck, North Dakota.
'When the intense heat backs off ne
