A note about Death Valley temps...
As I mentioned in earlier posts, we're being chased out of Death Valley today due to rapidly rising temperatures. But I didn't really offer much explanation, as everyone knows that Death Valley is just wicked hot, right? Well, generally, yes, in the summer - but in April, not so much.
The temperatures since we've arrived have actually been slightly above the upper 70s typical of late April. Yesterday, the mercury hit 88, as did it the previous day. But it's not those temps which are driving us out - today's high is forecast 96, tomorrow, 101, and by Sunday, 110. The record for April 29th is 109, set in 1967.
We're not just talking hot. We're talking wicked hot. Just so you all know we're not complete wimps.
Comments
I was there in July 2005 when the temperature hit 117 in the shade in front of the Furnace Creek store at about 4:30 pm. Matthew and I had just been walking around at Badwater at about 2:30, with all the salt crystals reflecting all the light and heat.
It's worth doing if it won't make you ill just so you can know what it feels like, but there's not much one can actually do when it gets that hot other than to remark about how hot it is.
Posted by: Chris Clarke | April 24, 2007 06:02 PM
Now, 110 is hot in April, but 110 is not hot. Not in Death Valley. Not even in Walnut Creel, CA, Norcal. I used to play tennis in that sort of temperature. Drink a lot, and sweat -- it's a dry heat.
Now 117, that's getting hot.
Add humidity, I'm done for.
Posted by: wcw | April 24, 2007 09:30 PM
"it's a dry heat"
That's actually the Texas state motto...
Posted by: The Local Crank | April 25, 2007 10:24 PM