Zoo workers, animals cope with record heat in Denver

Denver, Colorado is among the cities in the U.S. West experiencing a blistering heat wave.

The temperature on Thursday hit a record high of 100 degrees (37.7 Celsius), according to a report from KMGH.

Much of the American West has been blasted with sweltering heat this week as a high pressure dome combines with the worst drought in modern history to launch temperatures into the triple digits, toppling records even before the official start of summer.

The heat is a challenge for staff taking care of animals at the Denver Zoo.

Even as animal care workers start their day at 7am in the morning feeding elephants and other animals, the temperature is already in the 80's, according to a KMGH report.

"We want to provide as clean of a space for the animals as possible. So we will go out and do the work that we need to do, within reason," says Maura Davis, who tends to the elephants at the zoo. If it gets too hot, Davis says they'll avoid certain outdoor activities.

The forecast calls for the Denver area to get some relief from the scorching heat by Friday, with cooler temperatures and a chance of thunderstorms on the weekend.