Dangerous Heat Dome Bringing Nevada Record-Breaking Heat – When and Where
A dangerous heat dome is gaining strength over parts of the Western United States, including in Nevada. According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, the heat dome is so…
Orange sky with bright sun
Getty Images/XurzonA dangerous heat dome is gaining strength over parts of the Western United States, including in Nevada. According to the National Weather Service in Phoenix, the heat dome is so intense that it's "one of the strongest high pressure systems this region has ever seen." Read on for when and how hot things are projected to get over the next few days. It's a doozie that involves Nevada record-breaking heat.
Dangerous Heat Dome Bringing Nevada Record-Breaking Heat - When and Where:
The heat dome is expected to grow over the weekend. As for Friday (July 14), the heat is expected to be so strong, that forecasters are saying that residents of Las Vegas should avoid the outdoors between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Las Vegas is also on target to hit its all-time high temperature of 117 degrees on Sunday (July 16), according to CNN.
The Weather Channel adds that these record-breaking temperatures are expected in several U.S. states through Monday (July 15). Those include parts of California into Arizona, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico, Texas and western Colorado. Early next week, the Weather Channel states, "Triple-digit temperatures will be a fixture from much of Texas into the Southwest and California (except near the coast and in the mountains). Parts of the Desert Southwest will easily be in the 110s, even 120s in spots."
What's extra crazy is that the hottest place on Earth, California's Death Valley, could even hit record highs. That area is looking at 130 degrees possible Sunday, forecasters at the National Weather Service told CNN. "It has only happened a handful of times, one of which is the all-time global record high temperature of 134 degrees," CNN states. As for Las Vegas, specifically, the city's all-time record of 117 degrees could be tied or even surpassed this weekend. Stay as cool as possible, and please stay hydrated. Being hydrated is really important when the temperatures get this hot. You may not even know that you're dehydrated until it's too late.
In Nevada, we're blessed to have some beautiful areas, including some areas near water. Last weekend, I went to visit my uncle, who lives off a lake. It was a great time, even though it was pretty cold outside. Still, sitting along the lake and watching the ripples and currents was such a peaceful experience. But, I got to thinking, how dangerous are lakes across America? As it turns out, Nevada has some of the deadliest lakes in all of America.
Before we get to our state, let's look at another state that has lots of lakes: Michigan. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, 15 people have already died in the Great Lakes in 2023. Think about the fact that the season hasn't even started yet, and that's pretty incredible. A total of 108 people drowned in the Great Lakes in 2022. Also, a whopping 1,170 people have died in the Great Lakes since 2010. It's a reminder to stay safe out there and take precautions when the waters get rough.
My Michigan Beach has some simple tips to stay safe in the water this year. They say to, "Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
Swim sober." My Michigan Beach also notes that the Great Lakes are freshwater seas, meaning, "the water can change quickly." Find more tips on how to stay safe on the beach this summer here.
Nevada Has Some of the Deadliest Lakes in America
Read on for the deadliest lakes in all of America, including some which are right here. Have you visited any of the lakes below? Reach out to us on social media and let us know.
Lake Lanier in Georgia
According to USA By the Numbers, Lake Lanier in Georgia is one of the deadliest lakes in America and the deadliest in Georgia. They note that some believe, "Lake Lanier's murky waters, a bottom littered with tree trunks and other debris, and an abrupt drop in the lake’s floor make it unsafe for swimmers."
Mono Lake in California and on the edge of the Sierra Nevada
According to AZ Animals, the Mono Lake is a dangerous one. They state, "Located in California, it is set towards the east and at the edge of Sierra Nevada." They add that the fact the lake isn’t connected to any other body of water makes it so that "when chemicals get into the lake, they do not flow out but stay there and pollute the water. Sadly, the lake has built up an alarming concentration of arsenic. The water is now poisonous and toxic to humans and animals."
Lake Mead in Nevada and Arizona
Lake Mead is a reservoir formed by the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River. It's located in Nevada and Arizona, and it's just east of Las Vegas. It's dangerous, though. According to Wilk Jeffery’s “Wilks Journal of Travel Medicine,” the most international visitor fatalities has been recorded at Lake Mead. Many of these are drownings or car crashes.
Lake Erie in Michigan and Ohio
Even though Lake Erie is the smallest of the Great Lakes, it's very dangerous. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, six people have already died in Lake Erie this year. That's even more than Lake Michigan! The reason Lake Erie is dangerous is because it's the shallowest of the Great Lakes, so it can warm and cool faster than other lakes, which can lead to volatile waters and also a major annual algae bloom in the middle of the lake.
Lake Michigan in Michigan and Illinois - This is the No. 1 most dangerous lake in all of America
Multiple sources list Lake Michigan as the deadliest lake in all of the U.S. AZ Animals has the lake listed at No. 1, as does Pond Informer and USA By the Numbers. According to the Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project, five people have already died in Lake Michigan this year.
What about shipwrecks?
According to AZ Animals, Lake Erie has been home to the most shipwrecks in the U.S. That's creepy! "There are famous tales of shipwrecks on other Great Lakes, such as the haunting true story and song of the SS Edmund Fitzgerald on Lake Superior," they state. "But, it is Lake Erie whose icy, cold waters hold the remains of the most shipwrecks – with estimates of 500 – 2,000 wrecks. It is believed to have a greater density of shipwrecks than virtually anywhere in the world – even the Bermuda Triangle."
