Death Valley National Park is recognized as one of the hottest places on the face of the earth. The average temperature in the 3,400,000 acre area is 91.4 degrees, and temperatures over 110 degrees are quite common. 2017 is shaping up to be a potentially record setting year, as the first recorded temperature over 120 degrees was posted on Saturday June 17. This is actually quite early in the year for temperatures this hot, and the heat wave is expected to continue for at least 7 consecutive days. The National Weather Service is predicting consecutive 120 degree days through at least Friday, with Tuesday June 20 potentially nearing the all time high ever recorded for this area. In Las Vegas, temperatures are expected to reach 116 degrees with an all time high of 117 potentially being reached. Other desert communities like Phoenix are predicting potentially record breaking highs. So if Death Valley was to see a record set over the next few days, how hot would that be?
On July 10, 1913 in Furnace Creek, the temperature was recorded at 134 degrees. This record came on the heels of five consecutive days over 129 degrees. While there have been several times over the past few years that the temperature has come within range of this extreme high, it has never officially topped it. The 134 degree temperature is considered by many to be the highest temperature ever recorded on earth, with some debating it stating that a higher temperature was once reached in Afghanistan. This is not substantiated due to the fact that the equipment used to record that temperature may not have been modern, but no matter which area holds the official record for highest temperature we can expect to come close to breaking this record or potentially even surpassing it this year. With temperatures soaring over the typical June temperatures and each year seeing successively higher and higher temperatures during heat waves, it is only a matter of time until the record is broken.
If you have never experienced temperatures over 115 degrees, it is an experience you will not likely forget. Recently in Death Valley, it was reported that a woman lost her shoes and walked over desert floor temperatures that may have been over 200 degrees, causing significant burning to her feet. During times of excessive heat, Bindlestiff Tours does not suggest much extended time outside of our vans, and we consider the Death Valley Tour to be more of a sightseeing tour than an adventure tour at that point. Regulations also do not allow us to idle the vans with the air conditioner running for more than a few minutes, which means that we must keep our groups together so we can board and exit the vans at interest points without wasting too much time and also without creating environmental issues by letting the vans run with the air conditioners on.
If you have questions about our Death Valley tour, we encourage you to contact us directly so that we can explain the differences between this tour and our others. death Valley is one of the most extreme and unique places on earth, as as a result the tour has to be specialized so as to be comfortable and enjoyable for our guests.