Help our nonprofit newsroom bring you more of it.

Tucson and points to the west will see potentially deadly heat Friday and through the weekend, with the National Weather Service warning that "unusually dangerous" temperatures could reach 113 degrees in the Arizona desert, and up to 111 degrees in the Tucson metro area.

An excessive heat warning is in effect Friday, and Saturday and Sunday from noon until 8 p.m., with officials noting that "these hot high temperatures can cause heat-related issues ... including death."

Very strong high pressure aloft will build over Arizona into this weekend, bringing not only a break in monsoon thunderstorms but very hot daytime temperatures. Record or near-record high are likely this weekend, NWS officials said.

The warning covers much of the state, extending north and west from Tucson and including Green Valley, Oro Valley and Marana, as well as the Tohono O'odham Nation, Yuma, the Phoenix metro area, Las Vegas, and most of the Southern California desert.

People and pets outdoors or without air conditioning will face an elevated risk of heat-related illness as the mercury climbs as high as 113 degrees. Don't leave children or pets in cars.

Anyone working or spending time outside should take extra precautions, and reschedule strenuous outdoor activity to the early morning or late evening hours, NWS said.

- 30 -