UNITED STATES - The Western half of the United States has seen soaring temperatures over the past week, breaking records throughout the Central Valley of California. In addition to the California heat, the Southwest has experienced an increase in various travel and transportation delays.

"The thing that's so different about this heat wave is that it's so long, this early in June," said Hannah Chandler of the Sacramento National Weather Service, according to ABC10. Chandler continued in reference to the Sacramento and Central Valley region, "There's only been a few examples of this number of consecutive days of heat wave in June."

As ABC10 reported, the daily temperature records were broken in the following regions:

June 17

• Stockton: new record: 105 degrees / old record: 103 degrees in 1963

June 18

• Downtown Sacramento: new record: 106 degrees / old record: 105 degrees in 1945
• Stockton: new record: 108 degrees / old record: 104 degrees in 1981
• Modesto: new record: 105 degrees / old record: 104 degrees in 1957

June 19

• Downtown Sacramento:  new record: 107 degrees / old record: 106 degrees in 1988
• Stockton: new record: 109 degrees / old record: 108 degrees in 1981
• Modesto: new record: 109 degrees / old record: 105 degrees in 1981

June 20

• Stockton: new record: 108 degrees / old record: 107 degrees in 1981
• Modesto: new record: 109 degrees / old record: 106 degrees in 2008

In addition to the scorching temperatures of California, a recent New York Times article reported over 40 flights grounded in Phoenix, citing how hot air is too thin for smaller jets to take off in. Temperatures in Phoenix have maintained around 120 degrees for the duration of the heat wave.

"When you get in excess of 118 or higher, you’re not able to take off or land,” Ross Feinstein, Corporate Communications for American Airlines, told the New York Times.

According to sources, the heat wave will last until early next week. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow as we continue to report.