Blistering heat wave gripping western US won’t stop Death Valley tourists

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

A DANGEROUS HEAT WAVE BLAMED FOR A MOTORCYCLIST’S DEATH OVER THE WEEKEND AND WARNINGS FROM PARK OFFICIALS DIDN’T STOPPING HUNDREDS OF TOURISTS FROM FLOCKING TO DEATH VALLEY.

[THOMAS MRZILEK, BASEL]

IT’S LIKE A WAVE THAT HITS YOU AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT OF THE CAR.

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE DESERT IS ONE OF HOTTEST PLACES ON EARTH– BUT EVEN THIS IS EXTREME FOR DEATH VALLEY WITH TEMPS POTENTIALLY REACHING 130 DEGREES BY MIDWEEK.

[DREW BELT, TUPELO]

“FIRST OF ALL, MY VOICE GOT REALLY RASPY RIGHT AWAY WHEN I WALKED OUTSIDE AND YOU CAN FEEL IT IN YOUR EYES AND USUALLY A BREEZE IS COOL. THIS IS NOT A COOL BREEZE WHATSOEVER.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

FROM DEATH VALLEY TO VEGAS AND UP AND DOWN THE WEST COAST– HEAT ADVISORIES WERE IN EFFECT FOR 146 MILLION AMERICANS ON MONDAY AS SUMMER VACATIONS ARE WELL UNDERWAY.

SIN CITY BROKE ITS ALL-TIME RECORD HIGH– REACHING 120 DEGREES AND IT’S NOT OVER YET– A TEMP OF 118 IS PREDICTED FOR THURSDAY.

IN OREGON, AUTHORITIES SAY HEAT IS TO BLAME FOR FOUR DEATHS OVER THE WEEKEND.

THE HEAT ISN’T JUST A DANGER TO PUBLIC HEALTH BUT IT’S ALSO CREATED A WILDFIRE RISK.

SCORCHING TEMPS ALONG WITH DRY CONDITIONS FUELED A FIRE IN THE SANTA BARBARA MOUNTAINS AS MORE THAN A THOUSAND FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED THE BLAZE.

EVACUATION ORDERS WERE ISSUED FOR NEARBY AREAS MONDAY NIGHT AS THE FIRE GREW.

AREAS NOT TYPICALLY KNOWN FOR HEAT ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING HIGH TEMPS.

LIKE SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA, WHICH HIT A RECORD-HIGH OF 91 DEGREES.

THE JULY HEAT WAVE COMES AFTER GLOBAL TEMPS HIT RECORDS FOR THE 13TH STRAIGHT MONTH IN JUNE.

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