Excessive heat blankets the West as several wildfires rage
By Megan Ziegler
Beckwourth Complex Fire grows to largest in California
The Beckwourth Complex Fire, a combination of two lightning-caused fires burning 45 miles north of Lake Tahoe, showed no sign of slowing its rush after doubling in size between July 9-10. Video: Craig Philpott via Storyful
A heatwave continued to blanket the U.S. West Sunday with excessive heat warnings issued for inland and desert areas.
Forecasters warned that much of California would see dangerously hot weekend weather, with highs in triple digits in the Central Valley, mountains, deserts and other inland areas because of strengthening high pressure over the state.
Nation/World News
Support Local News. We ve been with you throughout the pandemic, the vaccinations and the reopening of schools, businesses and communities. There s never been more of a need for the kind of local, independent and unbiased journalism that The Day produces.
Please support our work by subscribing today.
Amid dangerous heat wave, Death Valley closes in on record-high temperatures
With record-setting heat expected Saturday, tourists like the Osborne family from Memphis stopped by the thermometer in California s Death Valley National Park. (Washington Post photo by Melina Mara)
Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park on Saturday. (Washington Post photo by Melina Mara)
Article content
A thermometer outside Furnace Creek Visitors Center in the heart of Death Valley showed 134 degrees Fahrenheit shortly before 4 p.m. on Sunday, although a National Park Service ranger said it typically measured higher than the official reading.
We apologize, but this video has failed to load.
Try refreshing your browser, or U.S. West scorches under heat wave, Death Valley reaches 54C Back to video
The National Weather Service recorded the temperature on Saturday at 130 degrees, which if verified would be one of the highest ever recorded on Earth. A ranger measured the sidewalk temperature outside the visitors center at 178 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday afternoon.
Heat wave: More than 18 million remain under heat alerts in Western US msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.