Death Valley, California, holds the world record for the hottest ever air temperature. That famously high temperature was recorded on July 10, 1913, at Greenland Ranch (now known as Furnace Creek), when the thermometer was manually read at 134 degrees Fahrenheit, or 56.7 degrees Celsius.
However, this long-standing record has been the subject of significant speculation, though it’s still recognized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Weather historian Christopher Burt doubts the validity of the 1913 Death Valley record, noting that no other location near Furnace Creek came close to setting a record for its own highest temperature in mid-July 1913, nor did meteorological records indicate that there was a record-breaking heatwave at the time.
Yet even discounting the 134°F recorded at Furnace Creek in 1913, it’s likely that Death Valley would still hold the record for the hottest surface air temperature on Earth. An automated temperature sensor at Furnace Creek, near the Death Valley National Park visitor center, recorded 130°F (54.4°C) on both August 16, 2020, and July 9, 2021. Though still awaiting WMO verification, these readings came from equipment that is regularly maintained by the National Weather Service and is able to measure temperatures of up to 158°F (70°C) to an accuracy of 0.018 degrees.
Death Valley’s specific geography has made the location especially likely to experience extremely high temperatures. Furnace Creek is located roughly 190 feet (58 m) below sea level, resulting in extra heat due to the air warming as it descends. The mountains that surround the valley on four sides help to trap hot air, superheating it as it is compressed by low elevation air pressure. The area's average evaporation rate far exceeds the annual precipitation (barely 2 inches), ensuring that the desert remains completely dry. The lack of vegetation also contributes to the heat, as all of the sun’s energy is directed at heating the ground and the air above it.
Hot or not?
- Readings of 129°F (53.9°C) were recorded at Death Valley in 2021, 2013, 2006, 2005, 1998, and 1960.
- On average, Death Valley experiences 147 days per year in which temperatures reach 100°F (37.78°C) or hotter and 23 days that reach 120°F (48.89°C) or more.
- On July 15, 1972, the ground surface temperature at Death Valley was recorded at 201°F (93.89°C). The air temperature that day was 128°F (53.3°C).
