Death Valley has been at least 50 degrees for nine days in a row; now there are power outages

July 16, 2024

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. (KOLO) – Temperatures of 125 degrees or higher were recorded in Death Valley National Park for nine days in a row.

Park management said this period lasted from July 4 to July 12. Now it is said that parts of the park are struggling with a power outage lasting several days during the heat.

A thunderstorm last Saturday caused a power outage around 4:45 p.m. on a power line that runs from a Southern California Edison substation to the Furnace Creek Visitor Center, National Park Service offices and employee housing.

The Furnace Creek Visitor Center reopened Monday, but NPS housing and offices are still without power. Affected employees, families and pets have been moved to nearby hotels.

According to officials, only park visitors were affected by the closure of the visitor center. Hotels, restaurants and gas stations in the park did not experience any power outages.

The average high temperature in the park in July was 117 degrees, and highs reached 129.3 degrees. This is the second longest period of high temperatures of 125 degrees or more in the park, just behind the 10-day period in 1913.

NPS officials advise park visitors not to hike to lower elevations after 10 a.m., stay near air-conditioned facilities, drink water and avoid eating salty snacks.