Heat advisories and extreme heat warnings are in effect west of Houston this week as an unusually early heat wave takes hold. What do these heat alerts mean?

The National Weather Service is advising SoCal residents that a “mini heat wave” will set in this weekend. Much of the heat will be felt in inland communities, NWS said in their area forecast discussion on Saturday morning.

Temperatures will continue to increase much of Southern California, especially in the inland regions and valleys, forecasters said Saturday. The May heat wave will possibly set record highs in inland cities like Riverside and Burbank,

A heat advisory remains in effect this afternoon across Central Texas, as a heat dome brings dangerously high temperatures to the region.

Temperatures across the counties under the extreme heat warning are expected to rise to at least 105 degrees, which can cause heat-related illnesses.

Triple-digit temperatures more commonly seen in the throes of summer and not during spring were making an unwelcome visit to Texas and other parts of the southeastern United States this week, placing