Death Valley is bracing for an unusually early and intense heat wave, with temperatures forecast to soar well above 100 degrees Fahrenheit this week, potentially threatening records and accelerating the demise of the region’s recent superbloom and temporary lake, Lake Manly.
The surge in heat, which began Friday, will briefly ease Sunday in downtown Los Angeles, with temperatures expected to drop to the mid-80s, according to AccuWeather. Conditions will remain dry during the 98th Academy Awards Sunday evening, with temperatures falling from the 80s into the 70s. However, a heat dome – a persistent area of high pressure – is forecast to intensify across the region this week, bringing summer-like conditions months ahead of schedule.
From Monday through Thursday, downtown Los Angeles could reach within a few degrees of record highs, some dating back to 1914. Further inland, across the deserts of Southern California, Nevada, and Arizona, temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees. Las Vegas has not reached triple-digit temperatures before May 1, but AccuWeather meteorologists predict temperatures will approach that mark later this week and next weekend.
Phoenix is likewise anticipating extreme heat, with multiple days at or above 100 degrees likely throughout the week. Highs near 101 degrees are forecast for Wednesday, and 104 degrees on Thursday – temperatures more typical of mid-June. In Death Valley, a projected high of 108 degrees on Wednesday could challenge the record for the earliest 100-degree reading and shatter the record for the earliest 105-degree temperature, previously set on April 1, 1966.
The early heat poses a threat to the vibrant superbloom currently unfolding in Death Valley National Park, potentially causing flowers to wilt. It also threatens to rapidly dry up Lake Manly, the temporary lake that formed earlier this year due to unusually heavy rainfall.
The heat’s impact extends beyond the desert. Temperatures are expected to rise across the Sierra Nevada and the Rockies, accelerating snowmelt at higher elevations. Temperatures may reach 70 degrees at elevations around 7,000 feet in the Sierra this week, with daily record highs possible. Denver could see temperatures around 90 degrees later this week, approaching its earliest 90-degree reading on record, which occurred on April 30, 1992.
The rapid warming and drying of vegetation will increase the risk of wildfire ignition. Although winds are forecast to remain relatively light across much of California, limiting the immediate wildfire threat, conditions farther east, from the Rockies to the High Plains, are more concerning. Occasional winds combined with ongoing drought conditions will substantially increase wildfire risk this spring.
The surging heat and dry conditions in the Colorado Basin may also accelerate declines in reservoir and river levels later this spring and summer. While initial snowmelt may boost runoff, the rapid pace could lead to an earlier peak, followed by quicker declines in stream, lake, and river levels. California, benefiting from ample Sierra Nevada snow and recent rainfall, is likely to avoid critically low water levels this year, but conditions are more precarious inland, where winter snowpack has been below average in recent years.
Authorities are warning of the dangers of cold water for anyone considering swimming at Southern California beaches or wading in area streams. Ocean temperatures remain near their lowest levels of the year, and inland streams are barely above freezing due to snowmelt. Sudden immersion can cause muscle cramps and cold-water shock, increasing the risk of drowning. Streams are also running high and fast, posing a risk of sweeping people off their feet.
