California’s Death Valley is expected to break its own century-old record as the hottest place on Earth as a sweltering and prolonged heat wave sweeps the West Coast. On July 10, 1913, an incredible 56 degrees was recorded at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley National Park.
The 3.4 million-acre park, the largest in the U.S., stretching along southeastern California to the Nevada border, is expected to see its highest temperatures Sunday through Tuesday during the intense heat wave. Temperatures reached 118 degrees, with a heat index of 120 Friday afternoon. Yesterday’s high was 125 degrees. Other areas, such as the Mojave Desert southeast of Death Valley, saw temperatures reach 100 degrees.
“This heat is very dangerous. Yes, it will be hot in the Mojave Desert. But this heat will break records,” warned the NWS Las Vegas.
These triple-digit temperatures are due to a massive high pressure system hanging over the region, breaking daily highs for parts of California, Nevada, Arizona, Oregon and Washington.
“With each passing day over the weekend and into early next week, the likelihood that our weather stations will meet or break daily heat records increases,” the weather service said. Daily highs are expected to be in the 35 to 49 degree range in many areas away from the coast.
Over 40 million people affected by extreme heat warning in the west, where temperatures are 10 to 30 degrees above the seasonal average. And Death Valley was in the midst of this dangerous heat. The highest temperatures in the region usually occur between 2 and 6 p.m., and there is little cooling overnight. Temperatures in the valley only “cool” to 80 degrees.
This ridge of high pressure is not going away anytime soon. The extreme heat is expected to continue through Wednesday night, when the ridge of high pressure will finally begin to break up and temperatures will drop in some places.
According to the U.S. Weather Service, extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related deaths in the United States. The service advises residents to stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces, avoid direct sunlight if they must be outdoors, and pay attention to the warning signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
A 9-year-old boy died Tuesday from a “heat-related medical emergency” he suffered while hiking with his family at South Mountain Park and Preserve in Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix police said. The boy was taken to a hospital where he later died.
When outdoors, take extra precautions such as staying hydrated, taking frequent breaks, and paying attention to changing heat warnings.
Reach Ken Mahan at [email protected]. Follow him on Instagram @kenmahantheweatherman.
