An anomalous jet stream pattern has the western United States baking in near-record temperatures that are well into the triple digits. The temperature spiked to 128° at Death Valley, CA on Saturday, June 29, 2013 tying the all-time June record high. Las Vegas, NV reached 115° on Saturday, June 29, 2013. The all-time record high temperature in Las Vegas is 117° set on July 19, 2005 and July 24, 1942.
A large dip in the jet stream in the central United States is leading to a big ridge of high pressure in the western United States. The temperature is running 10-15° below normal in the Plains and Midwest while the Desert Southwest bakes. Sea breezes off the Pacific Ocean are not stretching far enough inland in California to cool the valleys or deserts. The overall weather pattern is not expected to change much early in the week.
The heat is so extreme that it is altering the normal way of life in areas that are used to continuos 100+° days during the summer months.
The heat was so punishing that rangers took up positions at trailheads at Lake Mead in Nevada to persuade people not to hike. Zookeepers in Phoenix hosed down the elephants and fed tigers frozen fish snacks. Dogs were at risk of burning their paws on scorched pavement, and airlines kept close watch on the heat for fear that it could cause flights to be delayed. – read full AP article
RECORD EVENT REPORT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE LAS VEGAS, NV 930 AM PDT SUN JUN 30 2013 ...ALL-TIME JUNE RECORD HIGH TIED AT DEATH VALLEY... THE HIGH TEMPERATURE AT THE OFFICIAL WEATHER STATION IN FURNACE CREEK IN DEATH VALLEY CALIFORNIA REACHED 128 DEGREES YESTERDAY...JUNE 29TH. THIS TIES THE DAILY AS WELL AS THE PREVIOUS ALL-TIME JUNE RECORD FOR DEATH VALLEY OF 128 DEGREES SET ON JUNE 29, 1994. RECORDS AT DEATH VALLEY DATE BACK TO JUNE 1911. THE ALL-TIME CALIFORNIA STATE RECORD HIGH AS WELL AS THE ALL-TIME UNITED STATES RECORD HIGH FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE REMAINS 129 DEGREES ON JUNE 23, 1902 IN VOLCANO WHICH IS A FORMER TOWN NEAR THE SALTON SEA. THE ABOVE INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY AND IS SUBJECT TO A FINAL REVIEW AND CERTIFICATION BY THE NATIONAL CLIMATIC DATA CENTER. $$ STACHELSKI
