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By Anna Skinner
Associate News Editor
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The United States could soon tie the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth as forecasters warn of a potentially historic heat event in California's Death Valley this weekend.
Some forecasts are showing a high of 129 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday in the hottest part of Death Valley, just one degree shy of the temperature widely regarded as the highest reliably measured on Earth. The mark of 130 degrees was recorded at Furnace Creek in Death Valley in July 2021. Forecast discussions from the NWS Las Vegas office, which services the Death Valley area, warn that "dangerous and potentially record-breaking temperatures" are expected across the region beginning Thursday and continuing into early next week.
Forecast temperatures several days in advance typically carry a margin of error of a few degrees, meaning a forecast high of 129 degrees could ultimately verify slightly lower or slightly higher. Because the expected temperature is within a degree of the highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth, even relatively small changes in the forecast could determine whether Death Valley approaches, ties or potentially exceeds it.
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The NWS Weather Prediction Center shows several record temperatures that could be broken across the Southwest this weekend, including 117 degrees in Las Vegas on Saturday. Death Valley is not included within the forecast webpage, but NWS Weather Prediction Center meteorologist Marc Chenard told Newsweek it's possible some daily temperature records could be broken this weekend, although the NWS is forecasting a high of 123 on Saturday and 124 on Sunday in Death Valley.
Meanwhile, extreme weather chaser Colin McCarthy noted that Death Valley "could approach 130°F [54.4°C], tying the highest temperature ever reliably recorded on Earth." WFLA-TV chief meteorologist Jeff Berardelli likewise said reaching 130 degrees is possible, pointing to a forecast high of 129 degrees and a set of atmospheric conditions that could provide the extra boost needed to hit the milestone.
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Hurricane Genevieve Could Make It Hotter
The extra boost could come from Hurricane Genevieve, a Category 3 storm churning in the Eastern Pacific. The storm is not expected to make landfall, according to National Hurricane Center (NHC) forecasts, but the hurricane could indirectly contribute to the extreme heat. As the storm passes south of a powerful heat dome entrenched over the Southwest, outflow from the hurricane could help strengthen the upper-level ridge, allowing temperatures to climb even higher, Berardelli said.
Death Valley Record Hot Temperature
Death Valley set the hottest ever recorded temperature on Earth in 1913 when it reached 134 degrees Fahrenheit, but McCarthy said the measurement was likely inaccurate.
"The long-standing claim that the highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was 56.7°C [134°F] at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California, on July 10, 1913, is likely false," McCarthy posted in June. "A 2026 study found that the reading is physically implausible and was probably 12-16°F too high."
"The highest reliably recorded temperature on Earth accepted by climatologists and weather historians is 130.0 °F [54.4°C] on July 9, 2021 at Death Valley National Park’s Furnace Creek Visitor Center," McCarthy's post continued. "However, the World Meteorological Organization still lists the 1913 value as the official world record."
The NWS Las Vegas office has already issued an Extreme Heat Warning covering large portions of southern Nevada, southeastern California and northwestern Arizona from Thursday morning through Sunday evening. Forecasters warned that dangerously hot conditions will bring highs of 110 to 120 across the Mojave Desert, with Death Valley among the hottest locations. Overnight temperatures are expected to remain exceptionally warm, with lows as high as 95 in some areas, offering little relief after sunset. The agency said the event will create "major to extreme heat risk" across the region.
Located below sea level and surrounded by mountains that trap heat, Death Valley is known as the hottest places on Earth. Summer temperatures routinely exceed 120 degrees, and the combination of intense sunshine, dry air and barren desert landscape allows the valley floor to heat to extraordinary levels.
Extreme Heat: How to Stay Safe
Health officials stress that extreme heat can become life-threatening quickly, particularly for older adults, young children, outdoor workers and people with chronic medical conditions.
The NWS recommends drinking plenty of fluids, spending time in air-conditioned environments whenever possible and avoiding direct sun exposure during the hottest part of the day. Residents are also encouraged to check on relatives, neighbors and others who may be vulnerable to heat-related illness.
In a post shared to its webpage on Tuesday, NWS Las Vegas also encouraged people to avoid drinking caffeine and alcohol during extreme heat events, as they can contribute to dehydration. Anyone who must be outdoors should wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing and limit strenuous activity to early morning or evening hours. Frequent breaks in shaded or air-conditioned areas are recommended.
Forecasters also emphasized never leaving children or pets in parked vehicles, even for a short time. Interior vehicle temperatures can reach lethal levels within minutes during extreme heat events.
What Happens Next
People should be alert for signs of heat exhaustion—including heavy sweating, dizziness, weakness, nausea and headache—and seek immediate medical attention if symptoms of heat stroke develop. Heat stroke can cause confusion, loss of consciousness and dangerously high body temperatures and is considered a medical emergency.
For now, all eyes are on Death Valley's temperature readings this weekend. If forecasts verify, the United States could once again match one of the most extreme weather records ever observed on Earth.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Samantha Beech and Dave Siminoff.
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