Well thats is, Death Valley National Park has set yet another heat record. According to their Facebook page “JULY 2017 was the hottest July in Death Valley! Our average daily temperature was 107.4 degrees this month, which broke the 1917 record of 107.2 degrees. Nightly lows averaged 95 degrees, which typically happens around 5 am.” With an average temperature of 107.4 degrees, not only is this the highest temperature July ever recorded in Death Valley, but it is also the hottest July ever recorded in the United States. Death Valley also holds numerous other records for heat, like the hottest air temperature of 134 degrees in July of 1913 as well as the hottest surface temperature of 201 degrees in 1972. The most consecutive days over 120 degrees was also in 1917, when 43 straight days over 120 degrees was registered. There is much speculation with regards to weather records from earlier in the century as instruments may or may not have been accurate, as well as records from other parts of the world where readings may have also been flawed. One thing that remains true no matter what you believe as far as the hottest temperatures recorded, Death Valley is always in the mix as far as the areas setting records. July of 2017 was no different, and we have an official new record for hottest July in the United States.
So why would someone want to visit a place that is so hot? Simple, Death Valley is not only recognized worldwide as one of the hottest places but is also an incredibly diverse and beautiful area that boasts of far more than just sand and rocks. There are thousands of species of plants and animals that thrive in the heat and low rainfall. The area is by no means a brown and completely desolate space, but actually is incredibly beautiful and interesting. There are certain areas that illustrate the desolation that happens when searing temperatures continue to hit an area over lengthy timeframes, as is seen at the lowest point in the continental US below sea level which is in Death Valley. You get to see how plants and animals adapt to a climate that is more harsh than almost anywhere else in the world.
So would you like to experience the most extreme weather on earth for yourself? Many people do not realize that this is possible within only a few hours drive from Las Vegas, NV. Just because you would assume that the most extreme weather must be in one of those places that you see on TV like Afghanistan or Iraq does not negate the fact that the place where records are consistently being set is only a few hours drive away. Many people ask us if we tour Death Valley on the days when it is expected to be so hot, and for the most part the answer is yes. There are days that are going to be so extreme that we may cancel a tour, but for the most part every Friday and Sunday we head out from Las Vegas regularly. We keep cool in the vans in between short exploration stops, and our guests will usually be completely comfortable during their visits. So are you ready to experience Death Valley for yourself?