“Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across the U.S., Death Valley Records Dangerous Temperatures”

DEATH VALLEY, California (AP) — A dangerous heat wave is set to grip the U.S. once more, with triple-digit temperatures predicted for the East Coast following a deadly weekend in the West.

The scorching temperatures claimed the life of a motorcyclist in Death Valley, where the mercury soared to 128 degrees Fahrenheit over the weekend. The U.S. heat wave comes in the wake of global warming trends, with June marking the 13th consecutive month of record warmth, according to the European climate service Copernicus.

Authorities issued an excessive heat warning for approximately 36 million people, as dozens of locations in the West and Pacific Northwest tied or broke previous heat records. In Death Valley National Park, a visitor died from heat exposure on Saturday, with another individual hospitalized for severe heat illness.

As the sweltering conditions persisted, emergency medical helicopters were unable to respond due to the extreme temperatures. Park Superintendent Mike Reynolds urged visitors to exercise caution in the face of potentially record-setting temperatures, emphasizing the cumulative nature of heat-related illnesses.

Meanwhile, Las Vegas set a new record high of 120 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday, while triple-digit temperatures gripped Oregon and the East Coast. Advisories urged residents to stay hydrated, seek shelter in air-conditioned spaces, and check on vulnerable individuals.

With more extreme highs on the horizon, forecasters predict Furnace Creek in Death Valley could reach a blistering 130 degrees Fahrenheit in the coming days. The region holds the record for the hottest temperature ever recorded on Earth, a scorching 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July 1913.

The heat wave shows no signs of abating, underscoring the urgent need for caution and preparedness in the face of extreme weather events.