photo by Omar Omar via Flickr
Death Valley, California recorded the world record for the highest low temperature at 107 °F on the night of July 12, surpassing the previous record of 103°F. This came after the same area recorded a high temperature of 128°F within the same 24-hour period. While the daytime temperature was not a world record, it still tied for the 10th hottest temperature recorded in U.S. history. The truly amazing part of those two record temperatures is that together they broke the world record for the hottest 24-hour period in history.
The 24-hour average between the low and the high was a blistering 117.5°F. This might not seem quite as hot as the hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley (134°F on July 10, 1913, at Furnace Creek which is also the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere), but it is impressive. These dangerous temperatures have now subsided, but with forecasters predicting temperatures in the 120s, expect this extreme heat to return early next week. If you are traveling to Death Valley soon, stay hydrated and out of the sun, but most of all, stay safe.