Southwest experiencing prolonged heatwave  

Heat is the deadliest weather impact annually in the United States. Extreme heat has contributed to an average of 138 fatalities every year over the past 30 years. Extreme heat in Death Valley pushed the mercury up to 128 degrees Fahrenheit about three weeks ago, far above what’s normal there for this time of year. And another round of above-average heat is building in the region, sending temperatures skyrocketing.  

An abundance of excessive heat warnings have spilled across the Southwest as residents continue to bake under record temperatures. Most notably, the heat wave has stamped new record highs in the weather history books in Las Vegas, Nevada, and Death Valley, California. 

On Friday, the temperature at Death Valley soared to 130 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking the previous daily record high of 129 degrees, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). This mark fell just 4 degrees shy of the highest temperature ever measured on Earth, which was set in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. The mercury then rose to 129 and 128 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. A normal high at this point in the year is 116. The temperature in Death Valley is averaging over 8 degrees above normal so far this month. 

Las Vegas soared to a high of 117 and tied the city’s all-time record high temperature. The first time the city ever climbed to 117 was back in July of 1942. In the nearly 80 years since that first reading, the mercury has only topped out at 117 four times, including last week. 

Las Vegas also set a new daily record-high temperature on Friday of 116, breaking the previous record of 113, which was set back in 1943 and tied in 2012. Flights at Las Vegas’ McCarran International Airport were delayed on Friday due to excessive heat. According to Flight Aware, 364 flights in the airport were delayed.