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Death Valley recorded the planet’s hottest temperature in years, as a heat wave in the Southwest and Plains will expand East and North later this week.
There is a good reason they call it Death Valley because the temperatures there are as close as one can get on this planet to hellish heat. In another aptly named area of Death Valley called “Furnace Creek,” the hottest temperature that has registered on the planet Earth in years was recorded.
Death Valley, California, reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. The temperature was only one degree lower than what experts say is likely the hottest temperature ever recorded anywhere on Earth in history, CBS News reported.
Death Valley, California is one of the hottest places on earth. Death Valley is a desert Valley in eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, and borders the Great Basin Desert. It is also part of Desert Valley National Park, which straddles the California-Nevada border, east of the Sierra Nevada, and roughly 91% of the park is a designated wilderness area.
The Badwater Basin of Death Valley has the lowest elevation in North America at 282 feet below sea level. Despite its high temperatures and harsh environment, many species of plants and animals have adapted including bighorn sheep, coyote, and the Death Valley pupfish.
The high mark comes as a heat wave continues to send temperatures soaring, setting records over the past several days. Dozens more records are anticipated to be broken this week.
So far, hottest areas have been in the deep Southwest, lower Plains, and South, but the heat is expected to expand into the East and North later this week. On Monday, at least 50 million Americans were under excessive heat warnings or heat advisories.
On Tuesday, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for at least 14 states in the West, Southwest, central US and South including parts of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida.
Health experts are warning people to protect themselves from excessive heat and sun.
If you’re worried about your skin and how to reduce wrinkles, it’s important to apply a moisturizing sunblock that protects against both UVA and UVB radiation at least 15-30 minutes before going outdoors. Remember to reapply every two hours. On a hot day, use sunscreen even if it’s cloudy.
The federal government guidelines at ready.gov for protecting yourself from extreme heat includes: Drinking plenty of fluids, avoiding strenuous activities, wearing light clothing, as well as, watching for heat cramps, exhaustion, or heat stroke.
If you or someone else is feeling overwhelmed by the heat, you need to take immediate action. If outdoors – get to a shaded area – but try to find air conditioning as soon as possible.
In addition, be sure to never leave people or pets in a closed car, and it’s a good practice to check on your family members and neighbors.
