Photos: Western US braces for record heat wave
Much of the American West has been blasted with sweltering heat this week as a high pressure dome combines with the worst drought in modern history to launch temperatures into the triple digits, toppling records even before the official start of summer.
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Park staff take pictures of a thermometer display showing temperatures of 130 Degrees Fahrenheit (54 Degrees Celsius) at the Furnace Creek Visitor's Center at Death Valley National Park in June 17 in Furnace Creek, California. Much of the western United States is braced for record heat waves this week, with approximately 50 million Americans placed on alert June 15 for "excessive" temperatures, which could approach 120 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius) in some areas.(Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
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Extreme heat danger signage stands as visitors walk along sand dunes at sunset inside Death Valley National Park in June 17 in Inyo County, California. The U.S National Park Service has warned of extreme summer heat, urging tourists to carry extra water and "travel prepared to survive" in the hottest, lowest, and driest national park featuring steady drought and extreme climates.(Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
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A water bottle placed nearby as a contractor uses a saw to cut siding for a house under construction in Walnut Creek, California on June 17. The triple-digit heat wave gripping the western US is also straining power supplies, risking large scale blackouts.(David Paul Morris / Bloomberg)
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An aerial image shows vehicles driving on the California 14 Highway as solar panels, part of an electricity generation plant, stand on June 18 in Kern County near Mojave, California. The California ISO, which oversees the state's power generation, extended a Flex Alert asking customers to conserve electricity amid concerns of power outages during the heat wave.(Patrick T. Fallon / AFP)
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