Death Valley hits 130 degrees as relentless Western heat wave adds fuel to wildfires

Nearly 30 million people remained under heat alerts Sunday in the West, where at least 10 states were forecast to hit record triple-digit temperatures.

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, CALIFORNIA - JULY 11: A warning sign alerts visitors of heat dangers at Zabriskie Point on July 11, 2021 in Death Valley National Park, California. An excessive heat warning was issued for much of the Southwest United States through Monday. Climate models almost unanimously predict that heat waves will become more intense and frequent as the planet continues to warm. (Photo by David Becker/Getty Images) (David Becker, 2021 Getty Images)

On Friday, Death Valley, California, hit 130 degrees.

On Saturday, Las Vegas tied its hottest temperature, hitting 117 degrees, and Utah also tied its statewide record, hitting 117 in St. George.

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On Sunday morning, nearly 30 million people remained under heat alerts across several Western states, where temperatures were forecast again soar to 10 to 20 degrees above average.

Las Vegas was forecast again to climb to near 117 degrees. If that happened for the second time in a row, it would be the first time in recorded history.

And all eyes were on Death Valley to see whether it would hit 130 degrees again for the second time in three days, or perhaps higher.

Death Valley is considered the hottest place in the world — it hit 134 degrees back in 1913. No reliable weather station has recorded a hotter temperature on Earth.

Click here to read this complete story from NBC News.


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