Where temperatures will climb to triple digits this Fourth of July | CNN (2024)

CNN

Grills won’t be the only thing sizzling this Fourth of July as uncomfortable, potentially dangerous heat sets in for millions in the US.

This summer started off unusually hot and is largely expected to stay that way, as forecasts show only fleeting moments of respite in the weeks ahead.

Summertime heat will be in place for much of the Lower 48 for Independence Day as the US enters its hottest time of the year. But temperatures for two large sections of the country are expected to far exceed those typical of early July.

Heat will ramp up in parts of the West and southern US this week, culminating in temperatures 10 to 15 degrees above normal in California and Oregon on Thursday and 5 to 10 degrees above normal from Texas and Oklahoma to the Carolinas.

Construction worker Daren True drinks water as temperatures soar in Metro Atlanta on Monday, June 24, 2024. The heat indexes were likely to soar past 100 degrees in the next few days. (Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Miguel Martinez/Atlanta Journal-Constitution/AP Related article When will the heat end? Never.

High temperatures in the 100s and 110s will hit parts of California’s Central Valley while desert areas in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona will approach 115 degrees.

Sacramento — which just experienced its fourth-hottest June on record — could come close to its hottest Fourth of July with a high near 107 degrees Thursday.

Las Vegas could come within a couple degrees of its hottest-ever Independence Day when the mercury tops out around 112. Heat has been relentless for the city — this June was also its hottest on record.

While Thursday won’t be record-hot for Phoenix, temperatures in the city are expected to climb around 7 degrees above its normal high of about 107. Thursday is also likely to be the third day in a row where temperatures exceed the 110 degree mark for the city — a streak that will continue into next week.

Thursday will be very hot for parts of the West but even higher temperatures are expected to follow. Brutal heat will expand into much of the Pacific Northwest on Friday and keep temperatures sky-high across California and the desert Southwest.

Portland, Oregon, will swelter as temperatures climb into the mid-90s Thursday and soar to near 100 degrees on Friday — about 25 degrees hotter than normal.

The South will also bake Thursday, but it won’t quite reach the extremes the West will endure. High temperatures in the 90s will be widespread in the Southern states, with parts of Texas and Oklahoma set to reach into the low 100s.

Dallas will climb to around 101 degrees Thursday, likely marking the fourth day in a row of the thermometer hitting triple digits. Typically, the metro should have a high of around 94 for Independence Day.

Farther east, Atlanta should normally top out at around 88 degrees on the Fourth of July, but the city is expected to reach 94 degrees this time around. The heat comes after the city recorded 11 days in a row of temperatures at or above 90 degrees to the end of June and recorded its first 100 degree reading in nearly five years.

Where temperatures will climb to triple digits this Fourth of July | CNN (2)

Humidity will make the heat feel even worse in the South, sending heat index values — how hot the air actually feels to the body — over 100 degrees for millions. Dangerous heat index values coupled with outdoor activity for the holiday could result in heat-related illnesses without the proper precautions.

In addition to the heat, Mother Nature will also provide her own Fourth of July fireworks.

Thunderstorms will rumble over portions of the Mississippi Valley and Midwest from the morning hours onward as a cold front digs southward across the regions. Thunderstorms are also possible from parts of the Ohio Valley to the Northeast.

As the day progresses, some severe thunderstorms are possible, mainly in parts of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma and Arkansas during the afternoon and evening. These storms could unload damaging wind gusts, hail, heavy rain and even a tornado or two.

Where temperatures will climb to triple digits this Fourth of July | CNN (3)

Any storms that linger into the evening hours could disrupt fireworks displays. Rain may prevent organizers from launching fireworks and any lightning strikes will make it dangerous for large crowds to be outdoors.

Major fireworks shows in Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City may have to deal with storms Thursday evening.

Where temperatures will climb to triple digits this Fourth of July | CNN (2024)

FAQs

Where is the hottest place in the United States? ›

Death Valley has long been considered the hottest place in the United States after an air temperature of 134 degrees was recorded in 1913. However, there is debate about the reliability of that reading. The area's second-highest record of 129.2 degrees is undisputed though.

What is the record high temperature for Death Valley? ›

Following that world record of 134 degrees in a July 1913 heat wave, Death Valley has only reached 130 degrees twice since, in July 2021 and August 2020. A​s usual, that only attracted tourists wanting to experience extreme heat.

Why is it so hot in Death Valley? ›

Located 200 feet below sea level and surrounded by steep, towering mountain ranges that trap heat, the valley is consistently among the hottest places on Earth. In the summer, international travelers often schedule their trips without considering the weather.

What is the highest ground temperature ever recorded? ›

The highest natural ground surface temperature ever recorded may have been an alleged reading of 93.9 °C (201.0 °F) at Furnace Creek, California, United States, on 15 July 1972. In 2011, a ground temperature of 84 °C (183.2 °F) was recorded in Port Sudan, Sudan.

What state stays warm all year round? ›

While temperatures fluctuate throughout the year in most U.S. states, there are few states with warm weather that see averages around 70-degree weather year-round. These states include Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, and New Mexico.

Where is the hottest state right now? ›

On average, Florida ranked as the hottest state in the U.S., with an average of temperature of 74.1 degrees over the past 15 years. It was followed closely by Hawaii (73.8 degrees) and Arizona (73.6 degrees).

What's the hottest temperature a human can survive? ›

Externally, the upper limit of the human body's thermoneutral zone—the ambient temperature range in which the body can maintain effectively maintain its temperature and equilibrium—likely falls somewhere between 104 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit, according to a 2021 study published in Physiology Report.

What's the hottest day ever recorded on Earth? ›

The current official highest registered air temperature on Earth is 56.7 °C (134.1 °F), recorded on 10 July 1913 at Furnace Creek Ranch, in Death Valley in the United States.

Is there anywhere hotter than Death Valley? ›

But when it comes to surface temperature, two spots have Death Valley beat. A new analysis of high-resolution satellite data finds the Lut Desert in Iran and the Sonoran Desert along the Mexican-U.S. border have recently reached a sizzling 80.8°C (177.4°F).

Why would anyone go to Death Valley? ›

Death Valley National Park is all about extremes. Famous for the highest temperature ever recorded anywhere in the world (a sizzling 134 degrees in July 1936) and as the driest spot in North America, from autumn into spring Death Valley is inviting to explore.

Does Death Valley ever get cold? ›

The valley again recorded that temperature on July 9, 2021; however, that temperature has not yet been officially verified either. The valley's lowest temperature, recorded at Greenland Ranch (now Furnace Creek) on January 2, 1913, was 15 °F (−9 °C).

Have people died in Death Valley heat? ›

At least three hikers recently died at Grand Canyon National Park, where temperatures can top 120 degrees. A biker died last week while riding in California's Death Valley National Park when the high was 128 degrees.

What is the coldest town on Earth? ›

A small village named Oymyakon in Russia is the coldest permanently inhabited place on Earth. According to Live Science, average temperatures in Oymyakon reach minus 58 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 50 degrees Celsius) and was originally a destination for reindeer herders to water their herd at a thermal spring.

What is the hottest country in the world? ›

Ranked: Average Temperature in 2022, by Country or Territory
RankCountryAverage Temperature (2022, °F)
1🇧🇫 Burkina Faso84.7
2🇲🇱 Mali84.6
3🇶🇦 Qatar84.4
4🇸🇳 Senegal84.2
111 more rows
Jun 15, 2024

What is the coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth? ›

The lowest natural temperature ever directly recorded at ground level on Earth is −89.2 °C (−128.6 °F; 184.0 K) at the then-Soviet Vostok Station in Antarctica on 21 July 1983 by ground measurements.

Which state is hotter, Arizona or Texas? ›

Measuring Average Temperature Across the U.S.

Based on the average daily temperature, its top 10 was (in ascending order): Florida, Hawaii, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina.

Is Florida hotter than Arizona? ›

The summers in Arizona can be extremely hot, well into the double digits, sometimes past 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Florida summers are cooler, with temperatures ranging in the 90s, but this time of year is notorious for heavy rains and tropical storms.

Where is the hottest place on the planet right now? ›

Death Valley, California, USA

The below-sea-level basin is a land of extremes; in winter, towering peaks are dappled with snow, while summer heats make it the hottest place on Earth.

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