Cool Locally, But Record Desert Heat

The first six months of 2013 are behind us and July is off to a cooler than average start in the Quad Cities.  The average high this time of the year, in the metro area, is around 86°.  High temperatures for the first three days of the month are only expected to reach the 70s to near 80°.

While we're enjoying a break from the summer heat, it's a much different story in the Desert Southwest where parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada are experiencing record heat.

Some of the high temperatures today and tomorrow will be approaching all-time record highs.

Yesterday, it hit 117° in Las Vegas, Nevada, which tied the all-time record high that was reached on two other occasions in 1942 and 2005.

No real relief in the intense heat is expected through the weekend!

CBS4 Meteorologist Anthony Peoples