A persistent and record-breaking heat wave continues to scorch the Western United States and is now projected to expand into the Great Plains, bringing abnormally high temperatures to a wider region. Fueled by a heat dome, temperatures are soaring 20 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit above average, leading to the shattering of over 150 daily temperature records and around 50 monthly all-time records since the beginning of the week. Cities like Palm Springs, Phoenix, and Denver have already experienced unprecedented March temperatures, with Phoenix reaching 105°F (40°C) and Denver hitting 86°F (30°C).