Breakfast Brief: Dangerous Fourth of July heat wave

Dangerous heat in the West is breaking records and leading to a sweltering Fourth of July. High humidity is also sending feels like temperatures into the triple digits across the South and into the Mid-Atlantic. Storms across the Midwest, Ozarks and Ohio Valley may put a damper on a few firework shows.

A powerful heat wave is ongoing across the West, with record highs expected into next week. Central California will see highs in the 100s and even 110s in some isolated areas today, while the Desert Southwest will reach the 110s. This heat may make attending outdoor Independence Day events dangerous. Low-lying desert valleys in the Southwest will reach the lower 120s. This heatwave is expected to persist through the weekend and expand north into the Pacific Northwest by week's end.

Severe storms are possible stretching from the Ozarks into the lower Ohio Valley and into the Midwest. Damaging winds and hail are possible, and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out in Minneapolis and Kansas City. If you're heading to see the fireworks, check your evening forecast on the WeatherRadar.

Major Hurricane Beryl became the earliest Category 5 hurricane to form in the Atlantic Basin in recorded history after briefly reaching an intensity of 165 miles per hour. This storm continues its journey west and may even impact U.S. shorelines this weekend into early next week.

Beryl impacted Jamaica yesterday and will continue to track west as a hurricane today. Next up is landfall somewhere along the Yucatán Peninsula early Friday as a hurricane. Beryl will briefly weaken into a tropical storm before regaining strength over the Bay of Campeche. With south Texas in the cone, impacts may be felt along coastal Texas in the form of rip currents and damaging waves as early as this weekend. Weather & Radar will keep you up to date on the latest.

With dangerous heat building, you will want to check out the TemperatureRadar. Click on the link below to learn more about how to use this feature and how we provide accurate and up-to-date temperature data.