Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park are being warned about extreme heat that will plague the popular destination early next week after a recent increase in heat-related incidents in the inner canyon, including the deaths of three hikers.

Heat-Related Incidents

The U.S. National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch at the Grand Canyon for midday Monday through Tuesday, forecasting temperatures that could reach or exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit at the low-elevation Phantom Ranch.

Hikers are “strongly advised” to avoid hiking in the middle of the day, the U.S. National Park Service said in a release this week following a “recent influx of heat-related incidents.”

An extreme heat watch was in effect on June 16 when two hikers, aged 67 and 68, were found dead on the North Kaibab Trail, which NPS describes as the most difficult of the major inner canyon trails. NPS said they appear to have succumbed to symptoms of heat-related illness.

A third person, 72, died June 12 along the South Kaibab Trail after becoming ill from the heat, NPS said.

Park and weather officials alike emphasize to Grand Canyon visitors that hiking conditions can be deceiving. Temperatures at the rim of the Grand Canyon are often 20 to 25 degrees F cooler than what hikers will experience at the bottom of the canyon.

Wildfire in Oak Creek Canyon

About 90 miles south, Oak Creek Canyon visitors and residents were evacuated late Friday as a wildfire burned hundreds of acres just north of Sedona, Arizona.

Much of the western U.S. from the Rockies to the Pacific Coast were getting above-average temperatures Saturday and anticipating even hotter weather early next week. Officials also warned the prolonged dry, hot weather and relatively low humidity increased the risk of fire danger throughout the area.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.