View of Death Valley’s 134-degree record

A road sign in Death Valley warns travelers of the danger of extreme heat (Getty Images).

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Death Valley’s highest temperature ever – 134 degrees – is probably safe, even as Las Vegas heads toward a new record early next week.

Temperatures in Furnace Creek are expected to reach 49 degrees Celsius on July 4, and up to 49 degrees Celsius on Friday.

According to the National Weather Service weekend forecast, temperatures around 54 degrees are predicted for Saturday through Wednesday.

Over a century ago, Death Valley set the record of 134 degrees (56.67 degrees Celsius) on July 10, 1913. That record was reached in 2020 and 2021.

“The weather forecast for this weekend calls for daytime highs of 118 to 119 degrees Fahrenheit. We will monitor the forecast for changes, but we are not expecting 115 degrees Fahrenheit,” said Nichole Andler, director of interpretation and education at Death Valley National Park. “The forecast 118 and 119 degrees Fahrenheit are well above normal highs for this time of year. In early July, the normal high is 116 degrees Fahrenheit.”

Last year, when temperatures soared to nearly 54 degrees in mid-July, Andler told the Associated Press, “It feels like the sun has gone through your skin and penetrated your bones.” She was working as a ranger at the time.

Officials advise visitors that cell phone reception is limited in the park. The National Park Service offers information online on preventing heat-related illnesses.

“Unless you absolutely have to, do not hike or engage in any other recreational activity in Death Valley. If you go hiking, finish before 10 a.m. In extreme heat like this, the lows stay high at night, around 90 degrees. And you reach that 90 degrees very early in the morning. At midnight, it can still be well over 100 degrees,” Andler said Wednesday.

According to the National Weather Service, “Record-breaking and dangerous heat is forecast for much of the West during the week of July 4.”

“An upper-level high located just off the west coast today is expected to strengthen and realign directly over the western United States by the end of the week. This pattern will produce well-above-average temperatures in California today before the heat spreads further along the west coast by the end of the week. Highs are expected to be between 40 and 46 degrees Celsius throughout inland California away from the immediate coast and across much of the desert southwest,” the forecast said.