Heatwave Record (Death Valley 1913)

The highest reliably recorded air temperature on Earth/Weather & Climate

On July 10, 1913, the temperature at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley, California, reached 56.7 degrees Celsius (134 degrees Fahrenheit), the highest reliably recorded air temperature in history. Death Valley's extreme heat results from its low elevation (86 meters below sea level), arid conditions, and surrounding mountains that trap hot air. During sustained heatwaves, nighttime temperatures can remain above 40 degrees Celsius, which means even the desert cannot cool off. The thermometer reading has been disputed by some climatologists, but it remains the official WMO record.