Rapid Colorado Snowmelt, Record California Heat

High pressure has reclaimed control over the West. Warm, dry air willoverspread the region through midweek. The ensuing strong sunshine and a markedday-to-day rise in temperatures will prompt a rapid melt down of snow from lastweek's snowstorm in the Colorado Rockies. By midweek, very little of themulti-foot snowpack in the area will remain.Meanwhile, temperatures will soar in the Southwest, vying for a spot in therecord books. Over the next couple of days, high temperatures in the regionwill rise as much as 20 degrees above normal. The mercury will even eclipse the100 degree mark in parts of southern California and southwestern Arizona.