Never before was the month of June as hot as it was this year in Death Valley National Park. After a record-shattering summer last year, Death Valley National Park already broke some of its own heat records in June this year.
The National Park Service says that Death Valley’s average day/night temperature was 102.9°F (39.4°C) in June 2021, beating the previous record by 1.1°F (0.6°C).
Hottest June on Record in Death Valley National Park
Records going back to 1912 show that normal June temperatures in Death Valley National Park average 95°F (35°C). However, it’s important to note that every single June in the last ten years exceeded that historical average.
This, just like last summer’s many heat records in Death Valley, shows a clear trend toward a changing and hotter climate in the region.
The heat wave that engulfed the western United States in mid-June saw its peak in Death Valley on June 17. On that day, the mercury rose to 128°F (53.3°C) in Death Valley, breaking the daily record by a significant six degrees Fahrenheit (3.3 degrees Celsius).
Additionally, new daily high temperature records were set on no fewer than seven days in June 2021 in Death Valley National Park.
On top of the sweltering daytime heat, nights offered very little relief. For example, on June 29, the lowest nighttime temperature in Death Valley was an incredible 104°F (40°C) at 3.00 am.
Why Death Valley Is So Hot
Encompassing sand dunes, mountain ranges, salt flats and badlands, the landscapes of Death Valley National Park range from 282 feet below sea level to 11,049 feet above.
Because of this dramatic topography, Death Valley is hotter than surrounding areas such as Pahrump and Lone Pine. There’s very little to block the sun from heating up the desert floor. The air is clear and dry, while plant coverage is minimal.
Once the ground is heated up, it radiates heat back into the air. Although hot air does rise, the steep mountain ranges that flank Death Valley effectively trap the heat, which recirculates back to the valley floor.
Staying Safe When Visiting Death Valley in Summer
Even though Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth, the park does attract people in mid-summer. Those visitors come “to experience a temperature hotter than they ever have before”, says the National Park Service.
If you do visit Death Valley National Park in summer—which park rangers say is possible to do safely—there are a few things and tips to keep in mind.
- Limit heat exposure by not walking more than 5 minutes from an air-conditioned vehicle.
- Travel on paved roads where your vehicle will be found in case of a break-down.
- There is no cell phone service in most of the vast park.
- Rescues are not always possible because park rangers cannot safely work for extended periods in the heat and helicopters cannot get sufficient lift at high temperatures.