Environment

NBC - An extreme heat wave has taken hold in Texas, and more pre-summer heat is in store for the Southwest in the first significant heat event of the season. Temperatures across Texas will feel as hot as 115 degrees, particularly in Abilene, San Antonio and Brownsville, and severe storms are anticipated in the Panhandle. The  National Weather Service is forecasting a heat wave throughout Arizona and parts of California through Thursday, with temperatures potentially climbing to 113 degrees in Phoenix and 108 in California’s Central Valley. The high temperatures also bring with it a fire risk. As of last night, the Corral Fire near San Francisco, which had grown to more than 14,000 acres, was about 75% contained. Here’s what to know about this week’s forecast.This summer’s heat will likely be costly, too. The average cost of keeping an American home cool from June to September is set to hit $719, the highest in a decade and a steep rise from a $573 average in 2021, according to new projections. If temperatures continue to break records, the average cost could be even higher.