A motorcyclist was reported dead on Sunday, July 7, in California’s Death Valley National Park as temperatures soared above 127 degrees Fahrenheit. Another rider from the same group of six motorcyclists was rushed to a Las Vegas hospital after suffering a severe heat illness. The other four members of the group received treatment at the scene.
High heat poses serious health risks
Park superintendent Mike Reynolds warned that extreme heat conditions pose significant health risks. “Besides not being able to cool down while riding due to high ambient air temperatures, experiencing Death Valley by motorcycle when it is this hot is further challenged by the necessary heavy safety gear worn to reduce injuries during an accident,” Reynolds said.
Heat crisis grips the US
The United States has been enduring an intense heatwave for the past few weeks, with approximately 36 million people, or 10 percent of the country’s population, living under excessive heat warnings, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Death Valley National Park recorded a scorching temperature of 128 degrees Fahrenheit late Saturday, July 6, surpassing the previous record for that date. Over the weekend, many areas in the West and Pacific Northwest experienced record-breaking temperatures.
In northern California, temperatures soared above 110 degrees Fahrenheit, with Redding city recording temperatures exceeding 118 degrees Fahrenheit.
Increased wildfire risk
The heightened temperatures, combined with stronger winds and dry air, have increased the risk of wildfires. Authorities evacuated parts of Santa Barbara County in southern California late Saturday as the Lake Fire engulfed more than 13,000 acres in the last 24 hours.
According to the Copernicus Climate Change Service, the European Union’s monitoring body for climate change, each of the past 12 months has consistently registered as the hottest on record in year-on-year global comparisons. This trend underscores how human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and emitting greenhouse gases, contribute to climate change.