Death Valley reaches 130 degrees, hottest temperature in the US in at least 107 years

On Sunday, the thermometer at Death Valley’s Furnace Creek, in the deserts of Southern California, went to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, according to NOAA’s Weather Prediction Center. If checked, it would be the warmest temperature recorded in the US since 1913, and perhaps the warmest temperature ever reliable in the world.

The historical reading is just a small part of a massive, intense and long-lasting heat dome pollution of the West Coast that will continue through Tuesday.

The highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was also observed in Death Valley – 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913. However, many experts claim that temperature reading, along with several other temperatures recorded this summer, was probably an observer error.

IN 2016 analysis by Weather Underground historian Christopher Burt revealed that other observations from the region in 1913 are simply not square with the Death Valley lecture.

Due to the unique landscape and meteorology, the daily readings of the various observatories in that area of ​​the Southwest Desert are almost always locked together. But during the week, the all-time record was set in 1913, while other sites were around 8 degrees above normal, the Death Valley readings were 18 degrees above normal.

In 1931, a record high temperature for Africa was recorded in Tunisia at 131 degrees. According to Burt, however, this survey, and many others in post-colonial Africa, “have serious credibility issues.”

Because of these deviations, experts say the hottest temperature ever recorded “reliably” on earth is 129.2 degrees, from 2013 in Death Valley. That is, until now. Assuming no abnormalities are seen, Sunday reading will likely be accepted. It seems that the reading is not suspicious, but if there is reason for skepticism, the National Water Service or World Meteorological Society may choose to conduct a review.

The current heat wave is certainly not limited to deserts. Record-breaking heat is spreading from Arizona to Washington state. Over the next week, more than 100 temperature records are expected to be challenged. On Saturday, several cities recorded extremely high temperatures in August.

The peak of the heat wave will be Monday and Tuesday, and then the dome will weaken slightly as it creeps back into the Southwest. But although temperatures may drop only a few degrees, the scorching heat is likely to continue for the next 10 days in California and the Southwest.

Phoenix, Arizona, is located right in the middle of today’s hot dome, but even before that it was very hot. This summer is already the hottest on record for the desert city. By Thursday, Phoenix is ​​expected to see its 44th day this year of at least 110 degrees. That breaks the 2011 record of 33 days.

The burning heat helps to ignite and spread various wildfires in the west. Hot weather dries out the air and brushes, allowing fires to ignite and spread more easily. Since 1972, the size of the summer forest fire has increased eightfold. A recent study from Columbia University found that dry conditions in the West also have contributed to a mega-drought that has happened since 2000, making it perhaps one of the worst in 1,200 years.

In the past few decades, heat waves have become more intense, according to various studies. One study published earlier this summer found that since 1950, global waves have become significantly more frequent, lasting longer, and producing more cumulative heat – making populations more vulnerable to heat stress.

According to Climate Central, the western US warns the fastest of all regions on the continental US Some areas have had 3 to 5 degrees heat in the summer just since 1970 due to human-caused climate change. This means that heat waves start at a higher baseline and heat heads have more cumulative heat to concentrate, pushing heat waves to uncharted ground area.

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

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

Comparison of days of heat index above 100 degrees in Dallas and environs. Left: Historical average 1971-2000 and Right: Late Century 2070-2099 with RCP 8.5 (High Scenario) (1/2 … next tweet will be modern RCP 4.5) (via Climate Toolbox) pic.twitter.com/pcoGKYWQjV

– Jeff Berardelli (@WeatherProf) 4 July 2020