Death Valley hits 130 degrees, hottest temperature in the United States for at least 107 years

On Sunday, the Furnace Creek thermometer in Death Valley, located in the deserts of southern California, soared to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NOAA Weather Forecast Center. If verified, it would be the hottest temperature recorded in the United States since 1913, and possibly the hottest temperature ever reliably recorded in the world.

Historical reading is only a small part of a massive, intense and lasting heat dome suffocate the west coast, it will continue to get worse until Tuesday.

The highest temperature on Earth ever recorded was also seen in Death Valley – 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913. However, many experts say the temperature reading, along with various other temperatures recorded this summer, was likely an observer error.

A 2016 analysis by Weather Underground historian Christopher Burt revealed that other sightings of the area in 1913 simply don’t agree with reading Death Valley.

Due to the unique landscape and meteorology, daily readings from the various viewing sites in this southwestern region of the desert are almost always in sync with each other. But during the week, the all-time record was set in 1913, when other sites were around 8 degrees above normal, Death Valley readings were 18 degrees above normal. above normal.

In 1931, a record temperature for Africa was recorded in Tunisia at 131 degrees. However, according to Burt, this recording, and many others in colonial Africa, has “serious credibility problems.”

Due to these discrepancies, experts claim that hottest temperature ever recorded “reliably” on Earth is 129.2 degrees, as of 2013 in Death Valley. That is, until now. Assuming no discrepancies are apparent, Sunday’s reading will likely be accepted. It appears that the reading is not suspicious, but if there is reason for skepticism, the National Weather Service or the World Meteorological Society may choose to conduct a review.

The current heatwave is certainly not limited to the deserts. Record heat stretches from Arizona to Washington state. Over the coming week, more than 100 temperature records are expected to be called into question. On Saturday, several cities recorded record temperatures in August.

The peak of the heatwave will be Monday and Tuesday, then the dome will weaken a bit as it retracts to the southwest. But as temperatures can drop a few degrees, the blistering heat is likely to continue in California and the Southwest for the next 10 days.

Phoenix, Arizona is smack in the middle of this current thermal dome, but even before that it was extremely hot. This summer is already the hottest on record for the desert city. Phoenix is ​​expected to experience its 44th day this year of at least 110 degrees on Thursday. This breaks the 2011 record of 33 days.

Scorching heat helps ignite and spread various fires in the West. Hot weather dries up the air and brush, making it easier to start and spread fires. Since 1972, the extent of summer wildfires has increased eightfold. A recent study from Columbia University found that dry conditions in the West also contributed to a megadrought that has been going on since 2000, which in fact perhaps one of the worst in 1200 years.

In recent decades, heat waves have become more intense, according to various studies. A study published earlier this summer found that, since 1950, heat waves around the world have become much more frequent, last longer and produce more cumulative heat – making populations more vulnerable to heat stress.

According to Climate Central, the western United States is warming the fastest of any region in the Americas. Some areas have warmed 3 to 5 degrees during the summer just since 1970 due to man-made climate change. This means heat waves start at a higher baseline, and heat domes have more cumulative heat to concentrate, pushing heat waves into uncharted territory.

As a result, Palm Springs, California now averages an additional 14 days per summer with high temperatures of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Scientists say this heating trend will continue to intensify as long as heat-trapping greenhouse gases continue to be released from the burning of fossil fuels. In fact, computer models predict that heat index days above 100 degrees in Texas will triple from 40 days before the year 2000 to 130 days by the end of the 21st century.