People can argue about what is the coldest place in the United States. But there is no argument about the hottest place. Death Valley, Calif., has reached a temperature of 120 degrees for 10 consecutive days. The "coolest" day this month has been 117.
Death Valley is perfectly situated to be extremely hot. In addition to being in the middle of a desert, it is surrounded by mountains, which capture just about all the leftover humidity that any wind might have blown in.
The low elevation of Death Valley (up to 282 feet below sea level) results in additional heating of the air by compression. The parched soils absorb heat from the almost perpetually sunny weather. Finally, the steep valley walls cause sunlight to be reflected onto the valley floor.
Even the nights are scorchers, with July low temperatures averaging in the 90s and occasionally remaining above 100 degrees.
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