As summer progresses, the West Coast is sizzling.
The ongoing heatwave has been making headlines with record-breaking temperatures in Death Valley and Palm Springs. On Friday, a new record was set in California’s Death Valley — one of the hottest places on Earth — with the mercury climbing to 127 F. The old mark of 122 F was last tied in 2013.
Palm Springs hit an all-time high of 124 degrees, surpassing its previous record of 123 F and adding to a growing list of cities in California that have experienced unprecedented heat.
And there is worse to come as meteorologists predict 129 F for today, Sunday, at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park, and then around 130 through Wednesday.
In what seems to be a relentless summer, the mercury is soaring to new heights, pushing past previous records and challenging the limits of endurance in these already scorching locales.
Death Valley, already notorious for being one of the hottest places on Earth, nearly reached the highest temperature ever recorded, not only at that location, but on our planet.
This extreme weather not only underscores the power of nature and the relative helplessness of humans to control it, but also serves as a stark reminder of the increasing trend of extreme temperature events, which many scientists attribute to climate change.
As communities grapple with the immediate impacts, such as power outages and health risks, there is also a broader conversation about sustainability and preparedness in the face of a warming world. In Arizona’s Maricopa County, which encompasses Phoenix—another city that has been breaking records– there have been at least 13 confirmed heat-related deaths this year, along with more than 160 other suspected heat deaths that are still under investigation, according to the county’s most recent report.
While the worst is yet to come across much of the West, with triple-digit temperatures likely — between 15 and 30 degrees higher than average into next week–the National Weather Service stated that the Eastern U.S. is also bracing for more hot temperatures. Baltimore and other parts of Maryland are under an excessive heat warning, as heat index values could climb to 110 F, forecasters said.
“Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors,” said a National Weather Service advisory for the Baltimore area. “Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.”
