California and the West are still days away from the end of the current heat wave, which has brought oppressive and dangerous temperatures to many areas for nearly a week.
In a Monday forecast, the National Weather Service described the situation as a “seemingly never-ending heat wave,” with heat warnings in effect for much of the state’s interior through Saturday. In some cases, the heat has already been deadly, and officials are urging people to take extreme heat seriously.
The duration and magnitude of this heat wave has been repeatedly described as unprecedented, setting several high temperature records in the Golden State and the western US.
Below is a list of some of those records, according to data and reports from the National Weather Service.
All-time records
These places experienced their highest temperatures or most sustained heat since the National Weather Service began collecting such data.
- Barstow matched its all-time record on both Monday and Sunday, reaching 118 degrees.
- On Monday, Palmdale and Lancaster experienced a record fifth consecutive day of temperatures at or above 110 degrees, surpassing the previous three-day record for both Antelope Valley cities. But wait, there’s more: Officials say the streak is expected to continue the rest of the week, with highs forecast above 110 degrees through Friday.
- Lancaster matched its all-time record on Sunday, reaching 115 degrees.
- On Sunday, Las Vegas broke its record for hottest temperature by three degrees, reaching 120 for the first time since records began in 1937.
- Las Vegas is also expected to break its all-time record for consecutive days with temperatures of 110 degrees or higher, with five consecutive days on Monday. It is forecast to remain just as hot for the next week, which would surpass the previous streak of 10 days.
- Bishop matched its record high of 111 degrees on Sunday.
- In Humboldt County, Alderpoint hit 113 degrees on Sunday, surpassing its all-time high of 112; Hoopa hit 114 degrees, surpassing the previous high of 111; and Redway hit 116 degrees, surpassing the previous mark of 115.
- In Mendocino County, Covelo reached 117, surpassing its previous record high of 115.
- On Saturday, Redding hit a record high of 119 degrees.
- Palmdale recorded a record high temperature on Saturday at 115 degrees.
- Palm Springs hit 124 degrees on Friday, its highest temperature ever recorded.
Daily records
In addition to the record highs, several locations recently set records for the highest temperature recorded on that day of the year.
Highest temperature recorded so far for July 6 (with previous for that date, if available)
- Death Valley: 128 degrees
- Red Bluff: 118 degrees (111 in 2007)
- Barstow-Daggett Airport: 117 degrees
- Ukiah: 117 degrees
- Notchko: 117 degrees
- Redway: 116 degrees
- Lancaster: 115 degrees (111 in 1989)
- Sacramento: 113 degrees (105 in 1989)
- Stockton: 111 degrees (104 in 1989)
- Livermore: 111 degrees (109 in 1905)
- Modesto: 110 degrees (106 in 2007)
- Bishop: 108 degrees
- King City: 102 degrees (99 in 2018)
The highest temperature recorded to date on July 7
- Las Vegas: 120 degrees
- Palmdale: 114 degrees (110 in 1989)
- Bishop: 111 degrees
The highest temperature recorded to date on July 8
- Needles: 123 degrees (120 in 2017)
- Palm Springs: 122 degrees (119 in 1958)
- Borrego Springs: 120 degrees (117 in 1976)
- Las Vegas: 115 degrees (114 in 2021)
- Lancaster: 113 degrees (111 in 2008)
- Palmdale: 112 degrees (110 in 2008)
- Bishop: 110 degrees (109 in 2021)
- Wood: 110 degrees (107 in 1932)
- Merced: 109 degrees (108 in 1921)
- Big Bear: 92 degrees (91 in 2002)
- South Lake Tahoe: 91 degrees (89 in 2017)
