Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (2024)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas baked Wednesday in its record fifth consecutive day of temperatures sizzling at 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 Celsius) or greater amid a lengthening hot spell that is expected to broil much of the U.S. into the weekend.

The temperature climbed to 115 shortly after 1 p.m. at Harry Reid International Airport, breaking the old mark of four consecutive days set in July 2005. And the record could be extended, or even doubled, by the weekend.

Even by desert standards, the prolonged baking that Nevada’s largest city is experiencing is nearly unprecedented, with forecasters calling it “the most extreme heat wave” since the National Weather Service began keeping records in Las Vegas in 1937.

Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (1)

Already the city has broken 16 heat records since June 1, well before the official start of summer, “and we’re not even halfway through July yet,” meteorologist Morgan Stessman said Wednesday. That includes an all-time high of 120 F (48.8 C) set on Sunday, which beat the previous 117 F (47.2 C) record.

Alyse Sobosan said this July has felt the hottest in the 15 years she has lived in Las Vegas. She said she doesn’t step outside during the day if she can help it.

“It’s oppressively hot,” she said. “It’s like you can’t really live your life.”

It’s also dangerously hot, health officials have emphasized. There have been at least nine heat-related deaths this year in Clark County, which encompasses Las Vegas, according to the county coroner’s office. Officials say the toll is likely higher.

“Even people of average age who are seemingly healthy can suffer heat illness when it’s so hot it’s hard for your body to cool down,” said Alexis Brignola, an epidemiologist at the Southern Nevada Health District.

For homeless residents and others without access to safe environments, officials have set up emergency cooling centers at community centers across southern Nevada.

The Las Vegas area has been under an excessive heat warning on three separate occasions this summer, totaling about 12 days of dangerous heat with little relief even after the sun goes down, Stessman said.

Keith Bailey and Lee Doss met early Wednesday morning at a Las Vegas park to beat the heat and exercise their dogs, Breakie, Ollie and Stanley.

Related coverage

Frustrations mount in the Houston heat after Beryl moves on and leaves millions without power

Tourists flock to Death Valley even as a searing US heat wave is being blamed for several deaths

The heat has affected my garden for good (tall tomatoes) and bad (tick alert)

“If I don’t get out by 8:30 in the morning, then it’s not going to happen that day,” Bailey said, wearing a sunhat while the dogs played in the grass.

More than 142 million people around the U.S. were under heat alerts Wednesday, especially in Western states, where dozens of locations tied or broke heat records over the weekend and are expected to keep doing so all week.

Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (7)

Oregon has seen record daily high temperatures, with Portland reaching 103 F (39.4 C) and Salem and Eugene hitting 105 F (40.5 C) on Tuesday. The number of potentially heat-related deaths in Oregon has risen to 10, according to the state medical examiner’s office. The latest two deaths involved a 54-year-old man in Jackson County and a 27-year-old man in Klamath County.

On the other side of the nation, the National Weather Service warned of major-to-extreme heat risk over portions of the East Coast.

An excessive heat warning remained in place Wednesday for the Philadelphia area, northern Delaware and nearly all of New Jersey. Temperatures were around 90 F (32.2 C) for most of the region, and forecasters warned the heat index could soar as high as 108 F (42.2 C). The warning was due to expire at 8 p.m. Wednesday, though forecasters said there may be a need to extend it.

A heat wave continues to scorch the U.S. AP correspondent Jennifer King reports.

The heat was blamed for a motorcyclist’s death over the weekend in Death Valley National Park. At Death Valley on Tuesday, tourists queued for photos in front of a giant thermometer that was reading 120 F (48.9 C).

Simon Pell and Lisa Gregory from London left their air-conditioned RV to experience a midday blast of heat that would be unthinkable back home.

“I wanted to experience what it would feel like,” Pell said. “It’s an incredible experience.”

Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (8)

At the Grand Canyon, the National Park Service was investigating the third hiker death in recent weeks. Temperatures on parts of some trails can reach 120 F (49 C) in the shade.

An excessive heat warning continued Wednesday in many parts of southern and central Arizona. Forecasters said the high in Phoenix was expected to reach 114 F (45.5 C) after it hit 116 F (46.6 C) Tuesday, tying the previous record for the date set in 1958.

Authorities were investigating the death of a 2-year-old who was left alone in a hot vehicle Tuesday afternoon in Marana, near Tucson, police said. At Lake Havasu, a 4-month-old died from heat-related complications Friday, the Mohave County Sheriff’s Department said.

The U.S. heat wave came as the global temperature in June was a record warm for the 13th straight month and marked the 12th straight month that the world was 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) warmer than pre-industrial times, the European climate service Copernicus said. Most of this heat, trapped by human-caused climate change, is from long-term warming from greenhouse gases emitted by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, scientists say.

Firefighters in Henderson, Nevada, last week became the first in the region to deploy what city spokesperson Madeleine Skains called “ polar pods, ” devices filled with water and ice to cool a person exhibiting symptoms of heat stroke or a related medical emergency.

Extreme heat in the West has also dried out vegetation that fuels wildfires.

Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (9)

A blaze burning in northern Oregon, about 111 miles (178 kilometers) east of Portland, blew up to 11 square miles (28 square kilometers) by Wednesday afternoon due to hot temperatures, gusty wind and low humidity, according to the Oregon State Fire Marshal. The Larch Creek Fire closed Highway 197 and forced evacuations for remote homes.

In California, firefighters were battling least 19 wildfires Wednesday, including a 45-square-mile (117-square-kilometer) blaze that prompted evacuation orders for about 200 homes in the mountains of Santa Barbara County.

___

Associated Press journalists Rio Yamat in Las Vegas; Anita Snow in Phoenix; Scott Sonner and Gabe Stern in Reno, Nevada; Christopher Weber and John Antczak in Los Angeles; Martha Bellisle in Seattle and Bruce Shipkowski in Toms River, New Jersey; contributed to this report.

Las Vegas hits record of fifth consecutive day of 115 degrees or greater as heat wave scorches US (2024)

FAQs

What was the hottest day recorded in Las Vegas? ›

“This makes today the 7th day IN A ROW that we have broken or tied daily high temps!” During the city's punishing streak, Las Vegas saw its all-time hottest temperature on record of 120 degrees on July 7.

What is the all-time heat record in Las Vegas? ›

On Tuesday, Las Vegas flirted again with the all-time temperature record of 120 F (48.8 C) reached on Sunday, but settled for a new daily mark of 119 F (48.3 C) that smashed the old one of 116 F (46.6 C) set for the date in 2021.

What was the highest heat wave in the US? ›

July 1936, part of the "Dust Bowl", produced one of the hottest summers on record across the country, especially across the Plains, Upper Midwest, and Great Lakes regions. Nationally, about 5,000 people died from the heat.

Why is it so hot in Las Vegas? ›

Most of this heat, trapped by human-caused climate change, is from long-term warming from greenhouse gases emitted by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, scientists say.

What is the hottest day in US history? ›

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the highest temperature ever recorded was 56.7 °C (134.1 °F) on 10 July 1913 in Furnace Creek (Greenland Ranch), California, United States, but the validity of this record is challenged as possible problems with the reading have since been discovered.

What's the hottest it's ever been in Nevada? ›

Extreme temperatures for each U.S. state and territory
State, federal district, or territoryRecord high temperatureRecord low temperature
Nevada125 °F (51.7 °C)−50 °F (−45.6 °C)
New Hampshire106 °F (41.1 °C)−50 °F (−45.6 °C)
New Jersey110 °F (43.3 °C)−34 °F (−36.7 °C)
New Mexico122 °F (50 °C)−57 °F (−49.4 °C)
52 more rows

When did Las Vegas hit 117? ›

Officially, that temperature was only recorded one time, on July 24, 1942 (Charles Squires, who is also known as “the father of Las Vegas,” recorded 118 degrees at his home in 1931, but that reading was not verified.) Whether it was once a century or twice a century, 117 degrees was exceptionally rare.

How many days are over 110 in Las Vegas? ›

Las Vegas is best known for its casinos, magic shows, cheap all-you-can-eat buffets — and baking heat. The desert city averages nine to 10 days a year during which temperatures soar at or above 110 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

What is the hottest city in the United States? ›

The (sweltering) heat is on! America's sweatiest cities are named with two southern metropolises taking the crown as the worst hot spots: Austin, Texas, and Atlanta, Georgia.

What was the worst heat wave in the US history? ›

The 1936 North American heat wave was one of the most severe heat waves in the modern history of North America. It took place in the middle of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl of the 1930s and caused more than 5,000 deaths.

What is 1 the most extreme heat wave in world history? ›

In June 2021, a severe heatwave hit western North America, setting a new all-time temperature record for Canada and causing California to declare a state of emergency. The Pacific north-west heatwave was unprecedented for the region, with local temperature records broken by as much as 4.6C.

Is there a heatwave coming in 2024? ›

The UK is set to sizzle in the first 25C heatwave of 2024 within days, and it could get even hotter. The exact date for the first 25C heatwave of 2024 has been revealed - and it's just around the corner.

How do people survive the heat in Las Vegas? ›

Be smart: dress appropriately to protect yourself from the heat and sun, and stay hydrated. Enjoy a nice cold treat from one of the many tasty dining options Las Vegas has to offer. Relax in the pool or stroll the indoor entertainment options and activities. Step outside during the cooler parts of the day.

Is Las Vegas the hottest city in the US? ›

Maricopa County, home to Phoenix, America's hottest big city, for years has tracked heat-related deaths. Clark County, Nevada, home to Las Vegas, now also identifies deaths in which heat was a contributing factor.

Why is Summerlin cooler than Las Vegas? ›

And by contrast, the elevation of McCarran International Airport is about 2,500 feet, making Summerlin cooler than the center of the valley by up to as much as five to seven degrees.

What is the hottest day on the planet ever recorded? ›

The current official highest registered air temperature on Earth is 56.7 °C (134.1 °F), recorded on 10 July 1913 at Furnace Creek Ranch, in Death Valley in the United States.

What was the coldest night in Vegas? ›

For the record, the lowest temperature ever at the official airport measuring station is 8 degrees, set three times — Jan 13, 1963, Jan. 22, 1937, and Jan.

What was the coldest day in Las Vegas history? ›

Hottest, coldest, most snow, etc. Since official record-keeping began here in 1937 when the National Weather Service began observations, the coldest temperature recorded was a low of 8 degrees on Jan. 13, 1963.

Did the Las Vegas Sphere melt? ›

Even Las Vegas's Sphere was 'melting' as the city endured record-breaking heat. Thursday marked the sixth consecutive day of 115 degrees or higher. Even Las Vegas's Sphere was 'melting' as the city endured record-breaking heat.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Reed Wilderman

Last Updated:

Views: 5289

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (72 voted)

Reviews: 95% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Reed Wilderman

Birthday: 1992-06-14

Address: 998 Estell Village, Lake Oscarberg, SD 48713-6877

Phone: +21813267449721

Job: Technology Engineer

Hobby: Swimming, Do it yourself, Beekeeping, Lapidary, Cosplaying, Hiking, Graffiti

Introduction: My name is Reed Wilderman, I am a faithful, bright, lucky, adventurous, lively, rich, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.