Although official verification by climate scientists has not been completed yet at the time this article was written, the high temperature at Furnace Creek in Death Valley in California reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit — or 54.4 degrees Celsius — on Sunday, August 16, 2020, which could be the highest temperature ever reliably recorded in history on the planet.
Temperature Reaches 130 Degrees in Death Valley August 2020: A Possible Record?
Almost as amazing as the purported high temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit for Sunday, August 16, 2020 is the low temperature which was recorded for Monday, August 17, 2020: 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the statistics for the month of August 2020 from Accuweather.
Only two other temperatures in history — albeit disputed — were hotter than the temperature which was recorded this past Sunday: 134 degrees Fahrenheit or 56.67 degrees Celsius at nearly the same spot in Death Valley in July of 1913; and 131 degrees Fahrenheit or 55 degrees Celsius in Tunisia in July of 1931.
Although the high temperature for today is forecast to cool down to a frigid 127 degrees Fahrenheit, Death Valley and surrounding areas are currently under an excessive heat warning by the National Weather Service, with “Dangerously hot conditions with high temperatures of 110 – 130 degrees expected.”
Additionally — if you do find yourself outside in such extreme heat — the National Weather Service advises the following precautions and preparedness actions:
Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors. Young children and pets should never be left unattended in vehicles under any circumstances.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When possible reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing when possible. To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke is an emergency! Call 9 1 1.
Summary
The hottest ambient temperature which I have personally experienced was when I arrived at Cairo International Airport back in 2015: “After being a passenger on the worst flight I have ever experienced on an airplane operated by Gulf Air, I was greeted with what felt like a blast furnace when I exited outside of the airplane, as I have never felt such intense ambient heat as the sun burned through the hazy brownish air. I later found out that the outside temperature was 112 degrees Fahrenheit when I trudged across the tarmac to the terminal.”
I would have liked to have been in Death Valley when the temperature rose to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. I think that would have been awesome. I enjoy witnessing history happen — and even better, being a part of it.
Perhaps one day…
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