Dangerous Heat Wave in Arizona Disrupts Travel, Daily Activities

It was 118 degrees on Sunday in Phoenix.

ByABC News
June 20, 2016, 10:33 AM

— -- Residents from California to New Mexico to Nevada are forced to stay indoors and take precaution from the sun after an intense heat wave is wreaking havoc on communities and businesses.

A United Airlines flight operated by Mesa Airlines that was headed to Phoenix on Sunday was forced to return to Houston because of the weather; the temperature on the runway was so hot that the plane's tires were at risk of bursting if the plane landed, according to the pilot.

ABC News' Neal Karlinsky took a heat-measuring gun to a Phoenix-area playground Sunday, where the temp hit 118 degrees, where a slide registered at 185 degrees and a swing registered at 171 degrees. A car door handle reached 146 degrees.

The heat in Arizona was deadly this weekend; there were four heat-related deaths after people went hiking or mountain biking.

PHOTO: A temperature reading of a car door in a heat wave is seen here.
A temperature reading of a car door in a heat wave is seen here.