Preliminary recordings show Death Valley, California on Sunday reached 130 degrees Fahrenheit or 54.4 degrees Celcius. If it is verified, it could possibly threaten the hottest temperatures ever reliably recorded in the world. Temperature records are a hotly contested, confusing business.
The hottest temperature on record is 56.7C, recorded at the same weather station as Sunday’s reading, Furnace Creek, dated back on July 7, 1913. But this old record is widely disputed.
Reported by the official temperature record website notes there may have been a sandstorm at the time which could have affected the reading.
Per the climate data in xmACIS2, this is the first time since 1913 that Death Valley has reached 130F. In July 2013, it last reached 129F. If valid, it would be the hottest August temperature at the site by 3F. @NWSVegas pic.twitter.com/gZNBW4NXI4
— NWS Weather Prediction Center (@NWSWPC) August 16, 2020
The next highest temperature on the official record is 55.0C recorded in Tunisia back in 1931 if we ignore the 1913 Death Valley record, but this value is also widely considered questionable.
There are also few locations that are more reliably recorded at 54.0C which are at Furnace Creek on June 13, 2013, Mitribah in Kuwait on July 21, 2016, and Turbat in Pakistan on May 28, 2017.
We've released a Public Information Statement (PNS) that describes the process. pic.twitter.com/lAl8NQDCyp
— NWS Las Vegas (@NWSVegas) August 17, 2020
When it is verified, Sunday’s 54.4C would beat out those more reputable values. The official verification from the World Meteorological Organisation can take up to years, so do not expect it too soon.
Even once on the list, it is up for review — as happened to the once-record 58.0C recorded in El Azizia in modern-day Libya back in 1922 which was struck off the official records following a review conducted by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2010 to 2012.
Australia’s highest official temperature that has been recorded is 50.7C, recorded at Oodnadatta Airport back on January 2, 1960.
These high temperatures are the latest record news to come out of a hot northern hemisphere summer which has so far included Arctic fires, widespread heatwaves, and now fires in California.
Incredible heat in the Middle East on Thursday, with some places hitting 53ºC in Iraq and Kuwait. Not record-breaking for these countries, but not far off. Australia's highest reliably measured temperature on record was 50.7ºC at Oodnadatta in January 1960. Images from Ogimet. pic.twitter.com/aTlSVwsxFP
— Ben Domensino (@Ben_Domensino) July 30, 2020
Source: ABC News
