Heat wave or not, visitors come to Death Valley and the parks.
The warnings for summer visitors to Death Valley are dire: Expect high temperatures between 100 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit (38 and 54 degrees Celsius). Spend as little time outside in the heat as possible. Don’t hike after 10 a.m. Drink plenty of water. Travel with survival equipment; cell phones don’t work in most parts of the park.
This advice is given to all those venturing into the 3.4 million-acre Death Valley National Park, the largest American national park outside Alaska, explains the National Park Service.
Protect yourself: Symptoms of heat stroke and heat exhaustion.
But the current heatwave is not stopping visitors from flocking to Death Valley, reports the Guardian.
Although Death Valley, the hottest, driest and lowest-elevation national park, is best known for its extreme heat, some of our western national parks are facing temperatures this summer that will pose challenges for visitors and rangers alike.
Which national parks are the most popular?
Typical summer temperatures in western national parks:
During the Fourth of July holiday week, Death Valley could exceed 54.4 degrees. This has happened before, in 2020 and 2021, but according to the National Park Service, the Furnace Creek area of the park has the world’s highest air temperature, at 56.4 degrees, recorded on July 10, 1913.
How hot is it in the Grand Canyon and other parks?
Other western national parks report high temperatures:
- Joshua Tree: Rangers advise visitors to exercise extra caution due to high temperatures in the park, which can reach up to 49 degrees Celsius.
- Grand Canyon: On June 29, a hiker collapsed and died on a hiking trail in temperatures over 32 degrees Celsius.
- Large bend: An extreme heat warning is in effect, with temperatures over 100 degrees expected.
- Saguaro: The park service issued a heat warning, with temperatures expected to reach between 42 and 45 degrees Celsius.
- Sheets: The park service issued an extreme heat warning with daytime highs approaching 100 degrees.
- Zion: Temperatures in the park exceeded 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) on several days in June, and the high temperatures are expected to continue, the St. George News reported.
More Americans than ever before are traveling for the 4th of July
STORY: Americans are expected to travel in record numbers for the Fourth of July. Despite high fuel costs, the American Automobile Association predicts that 71 million people will travel around the Independence Day celebrations, with growth similar to the pre-pandemic trend. About 60 million people will travel by car, nearly 6 million will fly to their destinations, while about 4.6 million people
How can I protect myself from heat?
When visitors are outdoors in hot weather, the park service has the following recommendations:
National parks close during severe weather, such as heavy snow or extreme rainfall, but not during high temperatures. Instead, park rangers ask visitors to be aware of weather conditions, heed warnings, and protect themselves while hiking or engaging in other activities. Yet park visitors die from the heat every year.
Source: Reporting and research by USA TODAY Network; National Park Service; Reuters
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