Tens of millions of Americans are experiencing dangerously high temperatures today as a heat wave stretches from California to Texas, even reaching parts of Florida, with extreme heat reaching its peak this weekend.

The “heat dome” has been hitting the southwestern States since the beginning of the week, threatening the lives and health of the elderly, builders, distributors and the homeless. In Arizona, one of the hardest hit states, everyday life is now a marathon against the sun’s rays. In Phoenix, the capital, the temperature is expected to exceed 43 degrees today for the 15th day in a row, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).

The heat has resulted in the cancellation of weekend concerts in the city. This week, Arizona residents posted photos on social media showing tar melting on their roofs, while in a video, some people were frying… eggs in the sun.

Experts have sounded the alarm for several days. They recommend that Americans avoid outdoor activities and drink plenty of fluids because dehydration can prove fatal in such conditions.

Forecasters estimate that the temperature record may be broken this Sunday in Las Vegas, Nevada. In California, in the infamous “Death Valley”, one of the hottest places in the world, the mercury can rise to 54 degrees Celsius.

In Texas, El Paso continues to “break” records one after another: on Thursday, for the 27th day in a row, the temperature exceeded 37.7 degrees Celsius.

Several small fires broke out in southern California this week, but they were quickly brought under control.

Unlike floods and wildfires, “invisible” heat remains the deadliest weather phenomenon in the US. However, the problem is often underestimated. Last weekend, ten migrants died in the sweltering heat at the border with Mexico, according to the Border Patrol. Last week, Arizona’s Maricopa County released a report showing that 425 people died from extreme temperatures in the summer of 2022, a 25 percent increase from the previous year.

In Texas, El Paso continues to “break” records one after another: on Thursday, for the 27th day in a row, the temperature exceeded 37.7 degrees Celsius.

The White House took advantage of the heatwave to announce Tuesday that it is developing a “national heat strategy.”

“Millions of Americans are affected by extreme heat waves, the intensity, frequency and duration of which are increasing due to climate change,” commented President Joe Biden in his announcement.