Gaby
A heat advisory hung over the national park with an ominous name for most of the summer. The last two months in Death Valley, which straddles eastern California and a sliver of Nevada, were particularly brutal. Now that summer is ending, officials confirm the hottest place on Earth just endured its hottest meteorological summer on record. “Death Valley recorded the hottest meteorological summer (June–August) in history, with an average 24-hour temperature of 104.5 °F (40.3 °C),” the National Park Service (NPS) said. That beats the previous record of 104.2 °F (40.1 °C), set in 2021 and 2018.
July was the worst month. Climatologists recorded the highest temperature of the summer at 129.2°F (54°C) at the Furnace Creek weather station. There were seven days when temperatures never dropped below 120°F (48.9°C), and nine consecutive days where the mercury hovered around 124.9°F (51.7°C). Daytime heat mattered, but the lack of nighttime cooling made things worse: the average minimum nighttime temperature was 91.9°F (33.3°C), leaving little relief, according to IFLScience.
The extreme heat had real consequences. In July, two bikers traveling with a group near Badwater Basin required medical attention. One of them died, and the other was hospitalized.
Temperatures are expected to stay above 100°F (37.8°C) through September and into early October, so the park has once again warned about “extreme summer heat.” The NPS urged visitors to limit time outdoors, avoid hiking after 10 a.m., drink plenty of water, wear hats, use sunscreen, and stay within a 10-minute walk of an air-conditioned vehicle—essentially advising people to “travel prepared for survival.” The park also reminded travelers that mobile phones do not work in most areas.
For historical context, on July 10, 1913, near Badwater Basin, Death Valley registered 134°F (56.7°C), which remains the highest temperature ever recorded in North America.
