Global temperature record set in Death Valley, CA
The hottest air temperature recorded anywhere on the planet in at least a century was reached Sunday afternoon in Death Valley in California's Mojave Desert.
An automated observation system run by the U.S. National Weather Service at Furnace Creek reported a record 130 degrees Fahrenheit at 3:41 p.m. local time.
It was a dry heat as humidity fell to 7%.
The record comes as climate scientists warn of the dangers of a warming planet.
Last month was the world's third-hottest July on record, and three of the hottest Julys ever all occurred within the last five years.
Meteorologist Daniel Berc, based in the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas bureau, said Sunday's temperature will undergo a formal review.
Technicians will check the thermometer in Furnace Creek is working properly.
The NWS will then convene a so-called climate extremes committee to ensure there's no reason to doubt Sunday's data.
Only a couple of dozen people live in Furnace Creek, but the area is a popular tourist attraction.
