Heat.........

Death Valley visitor dies amid 'exceptionally dangerous' Calif. heat wave

By Amanda Bartlett

One visitor to Death Valley National Park died and another has been hospitalized for "severe heat illness" after exposure to record-breaking 128-degree temperatures on Saturday, rangers said.

The visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the park near Badwater Basin. The person who died was not identified, and the person who was hospitalized was transported to Las Vegas for care. The other four visitors were treated on-site and released, rangers said, noting they were unable to airlift anyone because emergency medical flight helicopters can't "generally fly safely over 120 degrees."

"High heat like this can pose real threats to your health," superintendent Mike Reynolds said in a statement. "While this is a very exciting time to experience potential world record-setting temperatures in Death Valley, we encourage visitors to choose their activities carefully, avoiding prolonged periods of time outside of an air-conditioned vehicle or building when temperatures are this high."

July 7, 12:25 p.m. Several record high temperatures were broken throughout the Bay Area and across California over the Fourth of July weekend as the state continues to bake under a grueling heat wave.

After Palm Springs shattered its all-time record high temperature of 123 on Saturday, Death Valley followed suit with a daily record high of 128 degrees, just barely surpassing its previous record of 127 set in 2007 but not quite breaking the world heat record of 130. In the Bay Area and Central California, King City hit 102 and Livermore soared to 111, breaking previous daily highs of 99 and 109 set in 2018 and 1905, respectively. 

Further inland, Merced climbed to 111, breaking a previous record of 108 in 1931; Fresno hit 112, breaking its previous record of 111 in 1905; and Hanford skyrocketed to 113, breaking its old record of 111 in 1905, the National Weather Service’s Hanford office said on Saturday.

Elsewhere in the state, Sacramento topped out at 113, breaking a past record of 105 in 1989; Stockton warmed up to 111, beating out its 1905 record of 106; and Redding skyrocketed to 119, not only breaking a daily record of 111 in 1984 but its all-time record of 118, which has been recorded numerous times, the National Weather Service’s Sacramento office confirmed.

A number of record highs were also broken on Friday, with Oakland soaring to 82 after a previous record of 81 in 1981; Paso Robles rising to 112, beating a previous high of 110 set in 2007; and Eureka cresting at 75 after a previous record of 70 set in 1983, the weather service reported. The Fourth of July holiday also saw a record high of 87 at San Francisco International Airport, surging past the previous high of 85 set in 1973.

While the peak of this historic heat wave may be behind us, the event is far from over, with above-normal temperatures expected to persist through the upcoming week. 

“An exceptionally dangerous situation continues to unfold,” the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office said in an urgent message Sunday morning. “It cannot be stressed enough that while one day at these temperatures may be manageable for some, an event of this scale, magnitude, and longevity will likely rival anything we've seen in the last 18 years.”

An excessive heat warning remains in effect through 11 p.m. Wednesday as temperatures in the upper 90s and up to 105 are forecast from the North Bay mountains and valleys to the East Bay hills and down to the Santa Lucia Mountains and Los Padres National Forest. Little overnight relief is expected as lows are likely to stay in the mid 60s to low 80s, resulting in widespread major heat risk and isolated areas of extreme heat risk, the weather service said. 

A heat advisory also remains in effect during the same time frame for temperatures up to 90 across the San Francisco Bay shoreline, northern Salinas, Hollister and Carmel. 

People are advised to stay hydrated, wear loose and lightweight clothing, and limit strenuous activity. Take breaks in shady or air conditioned environments if spending time outside, and never leave children or pets in vehicles, the weather service said. 

“It’s been pretty remarkable,” Rick Canepa, a forecaster for the National Weather Service’s Bay Area office, said Sunday. Canepa also noted he saw temperatures Saturday morning at Mount Tamalpais hit the low 90s and continue to climb while temperatures remained in the 50s just about a thousand feet below. “We’re at maximum sun angle and we’ve got hot air aloft. When the two connect, that’s what sets us up for these stronger temperatures, especially at high elevations.”

That said, some influence from the marine layer and weak upper level troughing in the atmosphere could lead to a slight cooldown in the Bay Area, easing temperatures down from the triple digits to the 90s through inland valleys, he said. A brief uptick is expected on Wednesday and Thursday for far inland locations, with cities like Concord and Livermore forecast to reach 100 to 102 again. “That could roll back westward, but it won’t be to the extent of what we just went through,” Canepa said.

Check with the weather service for possible changes in the heat advisory and the latest updates in the forecast.