The West Coast and Southwest are preparing for an intense heatwave that will impact over 26 million people .
The National Weather Service issued excessive heat warnings for most of Southern California and southwestern Arizona. It also issued heat advisories for much of the rest of the Golden State.
Temperatures in these areas are expected to soar well over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, which NBC forecasters say is about 10 to 20 degrees warmer than usual for this time of year. Most areas impacted are expected to experience temperatures around 110 degrees or warmer.
Other areas impacted by the warnings include northern Utah, southern Idaho, eastern Wyoming, western Nebraska, and midwestern South Dakota. Among the major cities impacted are Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Phoenix.