2013 Southwestern United States heat wave

The 2013 Southwestern United States heat wave occurred in late June to early July 2013, lasting from around four days to a week locally. Daily highs were up to 15 °C (26 °F) above average, with relative humidity below 15%. Many locations experienced temperatures over 45 °C (113 °F). 46 monthly record high temperatures were reached or broken, and 21 records for the highest overnight temperatures were reached or broken.

Death Valley, California

The Furnace Creek weather station in Death Valley, California recorded highs up to 129F and lows as high as 100F. June's average was 110F and July's average was 117F. Death Valley was also the location of the hottest air temperature on Earth. The temperature was 134F.

Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs, California recorded highs of 122F. The record temperature in Palm Springs is 124F.

Phoenix, Arizona

Phoenix, Arizona reached highs of 120F. The record temperature in Phoenix is 122F.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Las Vegas, Nevada recorded highs of 117F. The record temperature in Las Vegas is 119F.

Yuma, Arizona

Yuma, Arizona recorded a high temperature of 118F. Yuma's record temperature is 124F.

Laughlin, Nevada

Temperatures in Laughlin, Nevada reached 123F. The all-time record is 125F.

Lake Havasu, City, Arizona

Lake Havasu City, Arizona recorded a high of 128F. This topped the record of 126F.

Needles, California

Needles, California recorded a temperature of of 124F. The all-time record is 125F.

Barstow, California

Barstow, California recorded a high temperature of 118F. The record is 120F.

Bullhead City, Arizona

Bullhead City, Arizona recorded a high of 124F. This topped the 119F record.

Quartzsite, Arizona

Quartzsite, Arizona recorded temperature of 120F. The record is 121F.

Parker, Arizona

Parker, Arizona recorded a high of 122F. The record was 120F. Parker is just north of Quartzsite.

St. George, Utah

St. George, Utah recorded a high of 115F. The record still remains at 116F.

Tucson, Arizona

Tucson, Arizona saw highs of 113F. The all time record still remains at 117F.

Other Areas

Wyoming, Idaho, New Mexico, and Colorado also experienced the heat. Evanston, Wyoming saw a high of 102F, while the previous record was 97F. Greeley, Colorado saw highs near 96F. This was a new record as the previous one was 89F. Boise, Idaho saw a high of 106F, smashing the old record of 95F. The city of Santa Fe, New Mexico also saw highs near 104F. The record however still remains at 107F.

Consequences

Many people were hospitalized from the effects of the heat. At an outdoor music festival in Las Vegas, 34 people suffered from heat stroke and/or sun stroke while 170 other people suffered from nausea and exhaustion.

A marathon was cancelled in the Mojave Desert surrounding Las Vegas. Six half-marathon runners in Southern California were hospitalized for heat-related illness. Authorities feared immigrants might die in the desert while trying to cross the border between the United States and Mexico, so additional personnel were deployed to monitor the border.

Seven people died in the Arizona desert from dehydration and exhaustion. One old person died in her home, which lacked air conditioning. Some emergency shelters with air conditioning were accessible to the public. Forty sheep succumbed to the blazing heat while 200 other animals had to be rescued.

Some airplanes, especially in California, couldn't take off because their performance over 52 °C (126 °F) is very bad.