"Good lord" - What I said when I checked the weather forecast...

[DreamGypsy]

65. Heat Wave May Threaten World’s Hottest Temp. Record

Reported by an article on Climate Central Heat Wave May Threaten World’s Hottest Temp. Record:

A brutal and potentially historic heat wave is in store for the West as parts of Nevada, Arizona and California may get dangerously hot temperatures starting Thursday and lasting through next week. In fact, by the end of the heat wave, we may see a record tied or broken for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth.

Heat statistics for Las Vegas, Bishop and Death Valley, Calif.
Credit: NWS

All-time records are likely to be threatened in normally hot places — including Death Valley, Calif., which holds the record for the highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth at 134°F. That mark was set on July 10, 1913, and with forecast highs between 126°F to 129°F this weekend, that record could be threatened. The last time Death Valley recorded a temperature at or above 130°F was in 1913.

Las Vegas and Phoenix, two cities well-known for their hot and dry summers, are also predicted to approach record territory. Last Vegas’ all-time high temperature record is 117°F and Phoenix’s high is 122°F. Excessive heat warnings are in effect in both cities from Friday through Monday.

The Southwest is not the only area of concern:

The heat during the weekend and during the first week in July will also affect inland areas of Southern California, where excessive heat watches and warnings have been issued. The NWS said on Thursday that the strong heat dome may migrate northward through the 4th of July holiday, potentially locking the near-record high temperatures in place for a week or more, raising the risk of wildfires, and bringing a heat wave to places like Portland and Seattle.

Current forecast for western Oregon right now is a high of 96 on Tuesday, dropping into mid-80's by the 4th. Sounds like there's a chance of temperatures warmer than those predictions.


Forecast temperature departures from average on July 3, 2013,
showing the migration of the heat wave into the pacific Northwest and Southwest Canada.
Credit: Weatherbell.com.