There’s little doubt that the last few months in Death Valley National Park have been particularly toasty, but officials have now confirmed that the hottest place on Earth has just experienced its hottest-ever summer.
“Death Valley National Park experienced the hottest meteorological summer (June-August) on record, with an average 24-hour temperature of 104.5°F (40.3°C),” announced the National Park Service (NPS) in a statement. “This surpasses the previous record of 104.2°F (40.1°C), set in 2021 and 2018.”
The MVP of this sweltering summer was no doubt July, which featured the summer’s highest temperature of 54°C (129.2°F). It was recorded at a weather station in Furnace Creek, where the world’s highest recorded temperature of 56.7°C (134°F) was recorded back in 1913.
While July 2024 might not have reached those heights, it did end up becoming the park’s hottest month in history.
Over the course of the month, there was little respite from the searing weather. On top of only featuring seven days that didn’t reach at least 48.9°C (120°F), there were also nine consecutive days during which temperatures were 51.7°C (125°F).
While daytime heat throughout the summer months contributed to the new record, the lack of a significant drop in overnight temperatures also ended up playing a role – it certainly wouldn’t have been a fun place to try and sleep.
“The average low temperature of 91.9°F (33.3°C) meant that there was little relief overnight,” said the NPS. “From June 1 to August 31, the temperature dipped below 80°F only five times, and there were nine days when overnight lows never fell below 100°F.”
The extreme temperatures this summer also saw a spate of heat-related incidents. In July, a group of motorcyclists traveling near Badwater Basin were treated due to the scorching heat; two members of the party had become severely ill, with one dying and the other taken to hospital for advanced medical care.
With temperatures expected to continue to reach at least 37.8°C (100°F) throughout September and into early October, the park’s “Extreme Summer Heat” alert remains in place for visitors.
“Expect high temperatures of 100°F to 130°F (43°C to 54°C). Minimize time outside in heat. Do not hike after 10 am. Drink plenty of water. Travel prepared to survive; cell phones do not work in most of the park,” reads the alert, with park officials also advising to wear hats and sunscreen, and stay within a 10-minute walk of an air-conditioned vehicle.
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