An early summer heat wave will bring 100°+ Fahrenheit temperatures to Southwestern parks this week/Accuweather

An early summer heat wave will bring dangerously hot temperatures this week to some Southwestern units of the National Park System, including Death Valley National Park, which could see temperatures flirting with 122° Fahrenheit by Thursday.

"The first big heat wave of the season will bring scorching temperatures and a high risk of wildfires to parts of the Southwestern United States this week," Accuweather said Monday. "The warming trend will bring rising temperatures to parts of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming between Tuesday and Friday. High-temperature records will be challenged, with temperatures forecast to climb 5 to 20 degrees above the historical average."

Among the parks that will be baked by the heat wave:

• Saguaro National Park, where the temperature could reach 111° Fahrenheit on Friday.
• Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which could see the mercury reach 107°F on Thursday,
• Casa Grande Ruins National Monument to the north of Saguaro is forecast to see the temperature rise above 100°F beginning Wednesday and continuing into Sunday.
• A weeklong period of 100+°F weather will also bake Grand Canyon National Park, where the National Weather Service predicts the temperature could reach 108°F on both Thursday and Friday.

At the Grand Canyon, the Weather Service was warning of "[D]angerously hot conditions below 4,000 feet, with daytime temperatures ranging from 106 degrees at Havasupai Gardens, to 111 degrees at Phantom Ranch" this week.

"Most individuals will be at risk for heat-related illnesses without effective cooling or adequate hydration, especially with prolonged outdoor exposure," the agency added. "Hiking in the lower elevations of the Grand Canyon will be dangerous and is not recommended."