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Did Death Valley break temperature world record? Internet says ‘officially living in hell’

NWS predicted that Death Valley’s Furnace Creek Visitor Center will hit a high of 130°F on the weekend, but on Friday itself the mark was breached

If you are planning to visit the Death Valley this weekend, it might not be a good idea as one of the extreme places on earth Death Valley has apparently recorded the hottest temperature ever measured on Earth. According to multiple reports, the temperature at California’s Death Valley soared up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit i.e. 54.4 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon, July 9.

Though the world record for the highest temperature sits at 134 degrees Fahrenheit recorded in 1913 at the same place, many scientists argue over its accuracy due to the old methods of measurement. According to BNO News, the data from the National Weather Service showed that a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded at the Furnace Creek weather station at 4:54 pm PT. The humidity was reported at 7 percent with virtually no wind. Lately, there has been a lot of news regarding the effects of climate change due to global warming. Antarctica was in the news when it hit a record temperature of 64.94 degrees Fahrenheit ie. 18.3 degrees Celsius a week ago.
 
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Did Death Valley break the temperature world record?

The official Twitter account of the National Weather Service in Las Vegas shared an update on the rising temperature saying, “DEATH VALLEY UPDATE .High temp at Death Valley today = 130F. Warning sign If this says anything about how hot SAT-SUN will be, HEED THESE WARNINGS. Do not put yourself, nor first responders in danger this weekend! This observed high temp is considered preliminary & not yet validated.” Dr Jeff Westers also posted a tweet about the rising temperature in Death Valley saying, “Death Valley hit 130°F this hour, breaking all-time reliably measured world heat record of 129.9°F set August 16, 2020, at the same site.”

Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert. It borders the Great Basin Desert. Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth during summer along with deserts in the Middle East and the Sahara.  It is the lowest point in North America and it comprises of Death Valley National Park and is the principal feature of the Mojave and Colorado Deserts Biosphere Reserve. According to BNO News, the following are the highest temperatures ever recorded:

56.7°C / 134°F (disputed)- Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913
55.0°C / 131°F (disputed)- Kebili, Tunisia, in July 1931
54.4°C / 130°F (subject to verification) - Death Valley, California, on July 9, 2021
54.4°C / 130°F (subject to verification) - Death Valley, California, on August 16, 2020
53.9°C / 129°F- Mitribah, Kuwait, on July 21, 2016
53.7°C / 129 °F - Turbat, Pakistan, on 28 May 2017

‘Death Valley 130 degrees'

A lot of social media users took to Twitter to talk about the apparent highest temperature record in Death Valley. One user said, “That’s 54 degrees Celsius. The hottest measured heat ever, with tomorrow possibly hotter. Climate change deniers can go pee up a tree.” Another shared, “Odd thing for me is I will always associate Death Valley with one of the coldest and windiest nights of camping I’ve ever experienced.”
 
One user shared replied to an individual who shared a few stunning images of the Death Valley saying, “As I see #DeathValley trading, I'm reminded it's some of the best #camping I've done. These shots by @noriegaphoto are gorgeous. But don't go there right now.” One added, “In crazy weather news in CA we had the temp reach 130F or 54.4C in Death Valley and now I understand where it got it’s name from because wtf.” One made fun of the situation and referred to Undertaker hailing from Death Valley, “Seeing the temperatures in Death Valley, idk how Undertaker did it this whole time.” Whereas, another chimed in and concluded, “Death Valley 130 degrees. We are officially living in hell.”