The Highest Temperature Ever Recorded on Earth

The desert can be one of the most grueling places to visit. The heat makes you feel like you’re in the middle of an oven. It seemingly hits you from every angle you’re standing at. There are instances where the wind makes you feel even worse because it blows the warm air into your face. While tons of folks have felt the feeling of warm weather, one temperature stands out among the rest in history.

The reason the weather is warm in areas like Phoenix and Las Vegas is because the towns are surrounded by mountains and valleys. Instead of dispersing, the warm sun rays collect in the valley and don’t leave. Summers in these cities are especially brutal. Tons of folks don’t even leave their home unless they’re forced to. Golf courses are empty, except for the one or two groups who are crazy enough to brave the heat. However, neither of these cities in the United States can boast that they’re home to the highest temperature ever.

The place with the highest temperature in history is called Death Valley, California. The town is about an hour and a half away from Las Vegas and is a common place for people driving from Los Angeles to Sin City to stop at. There’s tons of hiking and outdoor recreation… for those who dare. It’s consistently warm year-round, but what is the highest temperature ever? For more weather content, click here to read about U.S. cities with the nicest year-round weather.

To assist with finding the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth, 24/7 Tempo consulted several source, including Weather.com, Guinness World Records, and World Meteorological Organization, Arizona State University.

What is the highest temperature recorded on Earth?

Folks in 2024 think they know what hot feels like. Nothing compares to the record that was set in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. During the summer day, the temperature reached a boiling 134 degrees. Given that there was no air conditioning at the time, folks who were either passing through or who lived in the town were likely desperately trying to escape. Even in 2024, less than 100 people officially call the Death Valley area home. The weather is too extreme and it’s incredibly costly to ship water into the town.

However, since the temperature was recorded in 1913, some places have claimed that the record is inaccurate. However, even if the 134 degrees is considered wrong, Death Valley would still be home to one of the two highest temperatures ever recorded. They would be tied alongside Mitribah, Kuwait, with an official temperature of 129.2 degrees. These two temperatures were recorded in 2013 and 2016, respectively, so there’s no disputing these official submissions.

Could this record fall in the future?

The record for hottest temperature in history could easily fall in the future. Some areas have seen warmer temperatures in the last few years. However, all it takes is one day of extreme rays hitting the Earth for the temperature record to break. There are plenty of places in California where the temperature record could easily fall. These days, people can brace for the upcoming harsh weather a lot easier than they once did.

For people in California, there’s easy access to the beach on the warm days they need to cool off. There are also tons of areas where people can relax in the air conditioning. It’s always better to be safe then sorry when it comes to preparing for warmth, but what happens if you’re stuck in the heat?

What to do if you’re ever stuck in extreme heat

Nobody wants to be stuck in the middle of the desert. However, if the circumstance ever arises, there are a few important things to do. For starters, it’s vital to be near an area that’s heavily trafficked. Getting near a road or a place where people drive is key. The odds of you finding someone to help you are incredibly high. It’s also important to conserve as much water as possible. The first instinct tons of people have is to drink their water to stay hydrated. However, don’t drink too much at one time.

Keep your energy by not walking or going anywhere. The worst thing you can do is start walking and have no idea how far away you are from somewhere. Conserving energy and water is important when you’re in the desert. Because of cell phones, it’s also much easier to get ahold of someone these days. Ensuring your phone is fully charged before driving through a desolate area is important. If you’re near a road, though, odds are you’ll come across someone soon who can help you. For more weather content, click here to read about the 11 best parks to visit with good weather.

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