An unprecedented slow-moving
heatwave
from the Pacific Northwest to
Arizona
has shattered all previous records, compelling citizens to seek refuge from alarming high
temperatures
.
Other regions of the country, such as the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, are also experiencing
extreme
temperatures with high humidity. The situation is expected to continue through Saturday and beyond.
California’s
Death Valley
, one of the hottest places in the world, recorded a temperature above 5
°
higher than normal for the date, reaching 127
°
Fahrenheit (52.8
°
Celsius), exceeding its previous record set in 2013 of 122
°
Fahrenheit (50
°
Celsius).
In Phoenix, temperatures hit a record high of 118°F (47.7°C) for the date, with forecasts predicting highs of 115°F (46.1°C) or more until Wednesday. In Needles, California, the temperature reached 122°F (50°C), breaking the previous record of 121°F (49.4°C) set in 2007. Meanwhile, Palm Springs, California, saw a scorching 124°F (51.1°C).
According to the
National Weather Service
, these temperatures are expected to rise across much of the West, with triple-digit temperatures likely—between 15 and 30 degrees Fahrenheit (8
° C
and 16
°
C) higher than average—into next week.
The weather service in Phoenix commented on the duration of this blistering heatwave, stating, “The duration of this heat is also concerning as scorching above-average temperatures are forecasted to linger into next week.” The service stressed the importance of adequate cooling and hydration during this time.
Maricopa County in Arizona, home to Phoenix, has reported at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, with more than 160 other suspected cases still under investigation. This count excludes the recent death of a 10-year-old boy in Phoenix who had a heat-related medical emergency while hiking.
In Gresham, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, temperatures matched a previous record of 98°F (36.6°C). Sherri Thompson, 52, who has lived in her car for three years, was waiting with her 14-year-old Chihuahua, Kiwani, for a cooling centre to open. Thompson can only run her car's air conditioning for 20 minutes at a time to prevent the engine from overheating. She has previously been hospitalized for heatstroke and fears experiencing it again, exacerbating her anxiety.
Temperatures are expected to rise further, with Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park forecasted to hit 129°F (53.8°C) on Sunday and around 130°F (54.4°C) through Wednesday. The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 134°F (56.7°C) in Death Valley in July 1913, though some experts consider the 130°F (54.4°C) recorded in July 2021 to be the true record.
In Bullhead City, Arizona, temperatures reached 111°F (44.4°C) by 11 a.m. on Friday, with a high of 118°F (47.7°C) expected. The city opened cooling centres for older adults and others. According to city spokesperson Mackenzie Covert, these centres usually see low attendance unless there are power outages, as residents are used to the heat and typically have working air conditioners.
In Nevada, figure skaters at the Reno Ice Rink began their day early before temperatures reached 102°F (38.8°C). General manager Kevin Sunde anticipated nearly 300 visitors by the time the rink closed, with many parents staying cool while watching their children practice hockey.
Meanwhile, in Norfolk, Virginia, Kristin Weisenborn set up her table at an outdoor farmers' market to sell sourdough bread. Despite the temperature feeling like 114°F (46°C) due to 58% humidity, customers were already purchasing her bread as the market began. Weisenborn commented on the heat, saying, "Better than snow, I guess."
English (US) ·