How our high pressure is causing a heat wave off to the west coast

Mid-Missouri has seen sunny skies and near average temperatures the past 24 hours caused by a overhead high pressure. The same can not be said for portions of the southwestern United States as dangerous heat as taken a hold.

Things look quiet thanks to a high pressure system keeping moisture away from the region as winds continue out of the northwest leading to near average temperature trends.

Much of California, Arizona, and portions of Nevada are under a heat warning lasting through Saturday.

Temperatures have risen well into the triple digits with some areas such as Phoenix seeing temperatures over 108 degrees. These triple digits temperatures are expected to last through Sunday as winds in the low-level jet stream continue out of the south fueling warmer air into the region.

Models depict the large orange pressure ridge encompassing much of the western half of the United States expected to hold its way into this weekend before a low pressure system breaks it apart heading into Sunday.

The same high pressure system to the west is causing drier conditions for Mid-Missouri before a cold front can finally slide through Friday night prompting showers and storms.