A dangerous heat wave is gripping parts of the American West as temperatures broke record highs in some areas on Monday, July 8. However, the heat didn’t stop hundreds of tourists from flocking to Death Valley National Park, even in the wake of a motorcyclist’s death attributed to the latest heat wave gripping the park.
The California desert is one of the hottest places on earth but even this heat is extreme for Death Valley with temperatures potentially reaching 130 degrees. Park officials have warned those visiting the tourist attraction to heed caution in the dangerous temperatures and to limit their time outside their vehicles.
From Death Valley to Las Vegas and up the West Coast, heat advisories were in effect for around 146 million people on Monday, July 8, as summer vacations are well underway.
Las Vegas broke its record-high temperature by reaching 120 degrees on Monday but it’s not over yet. A predicted high of 118 is in the forecast for Thursday, July 11.
Meanwhile, in Oregon, authorities said the heat is to blame for four deaths over the weekend of July 6.
However, the heat isn’t just a danger to public health, it’s also creating a wildfire risk. Scorching temperatures along with dry conditions fueled a fire in the Santa Barbara mountains on Monday as more than a thousand firefighters battled the blaze. The fire forced the evacuation of some nearby communities as it grew.
Additionally, some areas not typically accustomed to high temperatures have soared into the 90s. For instance, South Lake Tahoe, California, reached a record-high temperature of 91 degrees.
The early July heat wave comes after global temperatures hit record warms for the 13th straight month in June.
