A broad swath of the U.S. Southwest is under Extreme Heat Warnings through at least Saturday, with the National Weather Service forecasting highs of 110°–115°F across the lower deserts of California and Arizona and up to 120°F in Death Valley. Triple-digit temperatures extend north into interior Northern California, where Heat Advisories cover the Central Valley and Sierra foothills. In Southern California, downtown Los Angeles is expected to touch 97°F on Friday while nearby valleys could hit 108°F. Phoenix is forecast to reach 111°–112°F, keeping the city within a few degrees of daily records, and Las Vegas may hover around 109°F. Overnight relief will be limited, compounding the health risk for vulnerable residents. The heat arrives amid critically dry conditions. Red flag warnings are in effect from Los Angeles to San Luis Obispo, signaling an elevated chance of fast-moving wildfires. Governor Gavin Newsom has pre-positioned ten fire engines and additional crews in high-risk areas, and Los Angeles officials have opened cooling centers and asked residents to avoid strenuous outdoor activity during peak afternoon hours. Forecasters say monsoonal moisture could trigger thunderstorms from Friday into the weekend, offering modest cooling but also the possibility of lightning-sparked fires and localized flash flooding. More substantial temperature declines are not expected until early next week.