LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – Death Valley announced Friday that July has been the hottest month on record for the park.
This month’s average 24-hour temperature sits at 108.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which beat the park’s previous record of 108.1 in 2018.
The average high temperature was recorded at 121.9 degrees, with the park experiencing nine days of 125 degrees or higher. There were only seven days overall in the month that didn’t reach 120 degrees.
The highest temperature recorded came on July 7 when 129.2 degrees was recorded at Furnace Creek.
“High temperatures only tell half the story,” meteorologists noted in a press release, highlighting that overnight lows regularly stayed in the high 90’s and low 100’s.
The average low temperature of 95.2 degrees meant that there was little relief overnight.
Park rangers responded to multiple life-threatening heat-related incidents in July including one fatality where heat was a factor and another incident where a man had to be rescued from the sand dunes after losing his flip-flops and experiencing second-degree burns.
“We just experienced the hottest month in history in the hottest place on Earth! Six of the 10 hottest summers have come in the past 10 years, which should serve as a wake-up call,” said Superintendent Mike Reynolds. “Record-breaking months like this one could become the norm as we continue to see global temperatures rise. Visitors to the park should plan ahead and come prepared to face extreme temperatures during the summer months.”
Park rangers urge summer travelers to Death Valley National Park to stay within a 10-minute walk of an air-conditioned vehicle, to drink plenty of water, eat salty snacks, and to wear a hat and sunscreen.
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