Residents of California and Arizona should abstain from alcohol

In parts of California and Arizona, people were warned to avoid drinking alcoholic beverages due to the hot weather.

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), extreme heat warnings have been issued in several locations as temperatures are expected to reach dangerously high levels.

“Drink more water than usual and avoid dehydrating alcoholic, sugary or caffeinated beverages,” the NWS updates say.

The alcohol warnings apply to people in several areas, including parts of Joshua Tree National Park in California and areas in the south of the state.

They also apply to parts of southcentral and southwest Arizona, including the Phoenix metropolitan area.

Heat advisories remain in effect in these areas until 8:00 p.m. PDT/MST Tuesday.

In some of these areas, temperatures could rise to 48 to 49 degrees Celsius, the NWS said.

The service also stressed that such high temperatures are associated with an increase in heat-related illnesses such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. The agency warns that heat stroke can lead to death.

In addition to the advice to avoid alcohol, people in these areas are also advised to stay indoors and in air-conditioned rooms whenever possible, wear light and bright clothing and eat small but frequent meals.

People are also advised to watch out for others, especially the elderly and those who are particularly vulnerable to heat, the NWS reported.

The USA is experiencing an ongoing heat wave. Temperatures in the triple digits are expected in several states over the weekend, affecting millions of people.

In addition to California and Arizona, extreme heat warnings are in effect in parts of Oregon, Nevada, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Idaho, Washington and Utah.

These warnings are issued when a maximum heat index temperature of 105°F or more is expected and the air temperature does not fall below 75°F at night.

“Heat is the number one weather-related cause of death in the United States, and if we don't take our preparations seriously, it's very likely we could see another increase in that number this weekend,” the National Weather Service for the San Francisco Bay Area said Tuesday on X (formerly Twitter).

The NWS advises people to recognize the signs of heat-related illnesses, the most serious of which is heat stroke, which is characterized by symptoms such as vomiting, confusion, throbbing headache, high body temperature above 104°F (40°C), and rapid, shallow breathing, among others.

Newsweek contacted NWS Service via email outside of regular business hours.