Las Vegas experienced its highest temperature on record on July 7, reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit. The city surpassed a 2005 record of four consecutive days with temperatures above 115 degrees Fahrenheit on Wednesday, and then broke that record on Thursday, with Friday likely to follow suit. Extreme heat has been widespread across the Western U.S. this week, with around 42 million people under extreme heat warnings on Friday in the region, including the Rockies and southeast Texas. In at least six states, it is estimated that thirty-eight people have died from heatstroke.
“I’ve been a resident of southern Nevada in Las Vegas for 18 years, and this year has been exceptionally hot,” said Chrishell Hadsell, social services manager for Clark County, Nevada, encompassing Las Vegas, Boulder City, Henderson, and neighboring areas.
Hadsell is in charge of over 40 cooling centers currently in operation in Clark County, offering air-conditioned shelters in places like libraries, churches, and recreation centers for people to seek refuge during the hottest times of the day.
Record-breaking temperatures in Las Vegas are impacting people’s daily routines.
Henderson Fire Department Deputy Chief Scott Vivier mentioned that he and his wife now have to run errands and shop for groceries early in the morning to avoid the heat, as by 9:30 a.m., even being in the car can be intolerable.
“We’ve adapted to being active in the mornings and late evenings,” Vivier stated.
The extreme heat has led to multiple temporary closures at the Neon Museum near downtown Las Vegas this week.
“Due to the prolonged Extreme Heat Warning for the Las Vegas Valley, the Neon Museum will delay its opening until 8:30 p.m.,” officials announced on the museum’s website on Friday. The museum showcases some of Las Vegas’ most iconic and historic neon signs in its outdoor “curiosity yard.”
Despite the evening hours, visitors may still find it uncomfortable, as overnight temperatures this week have been in the 90s.
Similar extreme heat conditions prompted Henderson city officials to close the public pool early on both Thursday and Friday.
“Our inclement weather closure policy has been activated due to the extreme heat,” city officials noted in a Facebook post.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
