A record‑breaking heat wave scorched the central United States on Sunday, setting temperature records from the northern plains to the Rocky Mountains.
Salt Lake City, Utah, and Billings, Montana, both hit 109F (43C), according to preliminary data from the US National Weather Service, AFP reports.
The readings mark all‑time highs since records began more than 150 years ago, surpassing previous peaks of 107F and 108F (42C).
The extreme heat has hampered efforts to battle large wildfires in Colorado and Utah, with forecasters warning conditions will persist through Tuesday.
Just over a week earlier, the eastern United States endured another heat wave, with temperatures reaching 104F in New York and Philadelphia.
Globally, heat waves are becoming more frequent and severe due to climate change driven by burning coal, oil, and gas and the release of greenhouse gases.
Western Europe recorded its hottest June on record, with more than 1,300 deaths linked to the heat, according to the World Health Organization.
