A visitor to Death Valley National Park died from heat exposure and another person was hospitalized as the temperature there reached 128 degrees Fahrenheit this weekend.
Officials said the two visitors were part of a group of six motorcyclists riding through the Badwater Basin area on Saturday. The person who died was not identified.
The park said in a statement Sunday that the other motorcyclist was taken to a Las Vegas hospital for severe heat illness.
Las Vegas reaches 120 degrees
A long-running heat wave has shattered records across the U.S. Las Vegas on Sunday reached an all-time record high temperature of 120 degrees. This broke the previous record of 117 degrees, which was hit 5 times—most recently in 2021.
The excessive heat warning for Southern Nevada has been extended through Friday night, as a “dangerous and historic heatwave” moves across the area. The National Weather Service in Las Vegas says temperatures are expected to peak through Wednesday.
Forecast via the National Weather Service:
Monday: 115°
Tuesday: 117°
Wednesday: 118°
Thursday: 118°
Friday: 116°
Saturday: 113°
Sunday: 110°
22 hospitalized in June for burns
Sizzling sidewalks and unshaded playgrounds are a danger for catastrophic burn injuries as air temperatures reach new summer highs in desert cities like Las Vegas.
Very young children, older adults and unhoused people are especially at risk for contact burns. They can occur in just a few seconds when the skin touches a hot surface reaching up to 180 degrees.
Last summer saw a dramatic increase in patients hospitalized after being scalded by asphalt, sidewalks and other hot surfaces at burn centers in Las Vegas. 22 people were hospitalized in June alone at the University Medical Center’s Lions Burn Care Center, said spokesperson Scott Kerbs.
That's nearly half as many as the 46 hospitalized during all three summer months last year.
Tips for staying safe
‣ Stay in air conditioning and out of the sun, if possible
‣ Check on friends, family, neighbors and pets
‣ Drink plenty of water
‣ Take breaks and use a buddy system if working outdoors
‣ Reschedule outdoor events
‣ Know your local cooling shelters
‣ Make a plan for a power outage
Cooling stations remain open across Las #Vegas and #ClarkCounty due to the extreme heat. Here are location and hours information from @HelpHopeHome. This information is also available at https://t.co/oGQfEoCepQ.
— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) July 8, 2024
Please be cautious if spending time outside.#VegasWeather pic.twitter.com/dYkYIrkU5g
