Heat wave strikes Southwest amid record March highs

(The Center Square) - Temperatures well into the 90s - and beyond - are expected from Los Angeles to Denver this week as record highs are felt across the Southwest. Experts cautioned people to stay inside with air conditioning and keep hydrated during the unusual March heat wave. Some meteorologists are ringing the alarm for potential wildfires. “Early Heat Wave in the West, Fire Concerns in the Plains” was a National Weather Service website headline Tuesday, with summer-like heat already hitting the region. Temperatures into the weekend were expected to be between 15-30 degrees Fahrenheit above average. In Los Angeles, a dangerous heat wave this week triggered extreme heat warnings and a high risk for heat illness between Tuesday and Friday, as record temperatures were expected to push daily highs past 100 degrees. Further north in the Bay Area, a moderate heat risk was in place for the week, with highs ranging from the 8