Thermometer rose above 125 for nine straight days at Death Valley park
Ty O'Neil / AP
Tourists take photographs with the thermometer at the Furnace Creek Visitor Center during a dangerous heat wave, Tuesday, July 9, 2024, in Death Valley, Calif. The thermostat is imprecise, registering the temperature anywhere from 1 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit higher than more precise instruments and providing a more impressive reading for pictures.
Monday, July 15, 2024 | 5:35 p.m.
DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — During the recent heat wave in the Southwest, Death Valley National Park recorded nine consecutive days with temperatures over 125 degrees Fahrenheit and is now dealing with a power outage that began Saturday, according to a release from the National Park.
The release stated temperatures of over 125 F were recorded every day from July 4 to 12. The average high temperature at the park in July is 117 F (47 C). The recent heat wave included three daily heat records and peaked at 129.3 F (53.9 C) on July 7.
This was the park’s second-longest streak of high temperatures at or above 125, just behind the 10-day streak measured in 1913.
The power outage was caused by a thunderstorm around 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, the release stated.
The issue is on a power line from a Southern California Edison substation leading to Furnace Creek Visitor Center, National Park Service offices and employee housing.
Park Service housing and offices are still without power. Affected employees, families, and pets have evacuated to nearby hotels.
Park visitors were only affected by the Visitor Center closure. Hotels, restaurants and gas stations in the park did not lose power.
The National Park Service encourages park visitors to stay safe in the summer by not hiking at low elevations after 10 a.m., staying within a short walk of air conditioning, drinking plenty of water and eating salty snacks.