They don't call it death valley for nothing.
The extreme heat that has enveloped the Southwestern states of the USA has been having an unusual effect on the wildlife, the streets and even the people,reports the Sun.
Temperatures in parts of Arizona and Nevada have hit as high as 48C, causing cacti to wilt, wheelie bins to melt and driven people to extreme lengths to avoid the worst of the heat.
Pheonix, AZ has been over 40C throughout the week and shows no signs of abating, while Las Vegas is expected to remain 40+ too.
Credit: PA
Americans have posted photos of themselves driving while wearing oven gloves to avoid the heat of the steering wheel, as well as attempting a few risky outdoor cooking experiments.
With already soaring temperatures amplified by hot cars, one person decided to get the cookie dough out and make biscuits on the dashboard, while another made pancakes.
Of course, the famed fried-egg-on-the-bonnet was attempted by a fair few folks as well.
The streets are starting to take on a Dali-esque feel too, with melting plastic now a common sight. Paint on street signs have started to slip, wheelie bins have given up the ghost and mailboxes have keeled over under the intense warmth.
Even the cactus, possibly the plant designed to endure extreme heat, has struggled, with one Twitter user posting a photo of their prickly plant leaning to one side.
Most are taking the heatwave in their stride, but there is a serious cost to the oppressive weather. Dr Kevin Foster, a specialist at the Arizona Burn Center, said that they were seeing the worst June in their history, with record numbers of people suffering from contact burns gained by touching hot cars or walking without shoes.
The wildfire risk has sky-rocketed and several deaths have been attributed to the heat. Four people in the Las Vegas area are reported to have died, while California has seen at least two more.
Words: Mike Meehall Wood
