Record heat makes for a sweltering start to October in the West

The beginning of October is bringing intense heat to parts of the western United States, with 36 million people under heat alerts and temperatures setting records into the fall. Cities like Phoenix and San Francisco are experiencing unusually hot weather, with temperatures reaching well above normal. This trend is expected to continue in the coming days, with dozens of heat records potentially being broken. The warm start to October follows a summer of extreme temperatures, with climate change exacerbating the likelihood and intensity of heat waves. The high temperatures also increase the risk of wildfires in the region, with red flag warnings in effect in several states.