Labor Day Weekend Heat Could Reach 125F in Death Valley

As a scorching heat wave sears the West, Death Valley might reach 125 degrees. There are excessive heat advisories in effect for much of the Southwest, and the risky heat may cause an increase in wildfire activity in drought-stricken regions.

Extreme Heat at Death Valley National Park Claims Life as Dead Man was Found Near Highway — Photo: David Becker / Getty Images

A Pretty Hot Labor Day Weekend

Parts of the Southwest and Great Basin will see an intense heat wave during the Labor Day weekend, AccuWeather forecasters have been warning about for days.

In parts of the West, notably California, where officials have already been discussing methods to prevent blackouts, the deadly late-summer heat wave is expected to push temperatures far above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Highs could even reach an astounding 125 F in Death Valley, California, on Friday, only 9 degrees short of the world record air temperature of 134 F in July 1913. Temperatures in the Desert Southwest are expected to be well over 110 F.

Heating Death Valley

The highest September temperature recorded for the national park is 125, and AccuWeather meteorologists estimate that Death Valley will approach that mark on Friday.

There are currently excessive heat warnings in effect for parts of Arizona, Nevada, and Southern and Central California, and they are expected to last until 8 p.m. on September 4. local time, a measure of how strong and protracted forecasters expect the heat to be.

The West will have a strong ridge of high pressure, allowing temperatures to increase gradually over time. As days of dry weather extend the region's extreme heat, putting millions of people in peril, daily high temperature records are expected to decline.

Because this heat wave will last through Labor Day weekend, a holiday weekend when many people will be spending more time outdoors and may be less aware of the heat risks, the risks associated with it are even more alarming than with other heat waves, according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter.

Porter also mentioned how many tourists and vacationers are anticipated to visit the affected areas over the holiday weekend and that they might not be as accustomed to taking precautions against extreme temperatures.

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Heat Reaching the North

The Northwest is already experiencing a heat wave predicted Thursday's peak.

Temperatures above average are anticipated to last into the beginning of the holiday weekend. Even though the high temperatures will likely not be as high as earlier in the week, they will still be above average through Saturday, by up to 10 to 20 degrees. These temperatures are more typical of July than those of the first few days of September.

According to AccuWeather meteorologists, the extended nature of the heat will increase people's susceptibility to heat-related ailments like heat exhaustion and heat stroke. People may keep safe in the heat by staying hydrated and spending time in the shade or somewhere cooler.