Death Valley's extreme conditions

Death Valley is one of the most famous desert regions in North America. It currently holds the official world record for the hottest temperature, which is 134 degrees Fahrenheit, that was recorded at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. It’s so hot that summer temperatures will often soar above 120 degrees in the shade, with low temperatures in the 90s.

During the big heatwaves in Southern California, heat tourists will often flock to Death Valley to experience the heat and take photos next to a large display showcasing the current temperature.

Death Valley became a national monument in 1933, then was redesignated as Death Valley National Park in 1994. The Badwater Basin in Death Valley is the lowest point in North America, as it is located 282 feet below sea level. Ironically, the park is approximately 85 miles from Mount Whitney, which is the tallest mountain (14,505 feet) in the continental U.S.

Spanning over 3 million acres, Death Valley is well-known for its heat and dryness, as the average annual rainfall is less than 2 inches in most areas. However, during periods of heavier-than-normal rainfall in the Badwater Basin, an ancient lake will appear. In 2024, a series of storms from September through November filled this area with a shallow layer of water. This temporary lake that forms at North America’s lowest point is informally called Lake Manly. According to the National Park Service at Death Valley, 2.41 inches of rain fell during the three-month period, with 1.76 inches falling in November, a record-breaking month.

Based on geological evidence, Lake Manly was once a large Ice Age lake. At its peak during Ice Age periods, the lake was estimated to be 80 to 100 miles long and up to 600 feet deep. As the climate warmed up at the end of the last Ice Age, the lake dried up but has made additional and smaller appearances in recent years.

In 2023, Hurricane Hilary dropped about 2.20 inches of rain, with another 1.50 inches in February 2024 at Death Valley. The lake was briefly deep enough to kayak. However, due to road damage from flash flooding, most of the site was not accessible until roads were repaired. In mid-February 2024, Lake Manly was about 6 miles long and 3 miles wide and a foot deep. Park rangers and tourists noted that the lake created magnificent reflections for outdoor enthusiasts.

Death Valley will also have periods of “superblooms”. During seasons of heavy rainfall, especially in 2023, tourists and residents of Southern California will often experience a “superbloom” of wildflowers, especially in the desert regions at this time of year. The process began in some regions late last month and environmental scientists are predicting, and hoping, for another spectacular season of flowering poppies.

Across the sandy deserts, when conditions are good, an array of colorful wildflowers, including bright yellow, orange and purple, will often bloom at once, setting up a stunning display in these typically dry regions. To get this magnificent display, the region usually requires a season of above-normal rainfall. Cooler temperatures in the spring are another necessary ingredient so the plants can retain the moisture. If temperatures suddenly become too hot or there is a lot of wind during the spring season, then the wildflowers will dry out too quickly and not have the opportunity to flower.

In 2023, the superbloom was very good and according to an article by bbc.co.uk, the superbloom was so big that it could be seen from space. There was also another big superbloom that occurred in 2016.

Southern California will often receive, at least on average, higher than normal rainfall patterns during periods of an El Niño, the warmer-than-normal sea-surface temperature event. However, the recent heavy rainfall in California was transitioning to or during the cooler La Niña. For the rest of the winter season, a weak La Niña is expected to persist along the Equatorial region of the south-central Pacific Ocean. In the Northwest, we have often received above-normal snowfalls when there is a La Niña event. During the late fall and winter season, the moisture arrived, and our snowfall totals across the Inland Northwest are below average, as most air masses have been too warm for snow in the lower elevations. The coldest weather thus far has primarily been felt east of the Rockies.

The latest forecasts indicate that La Niña should weaken and we’ll have a “La Nada,” or the in-between El Niño and La Niña, during the spring and summer months. Then, the chances of a new El Niño become much higher late in the year. If this scenario occurs, then the next winter season in Southern California, including the desert regions, could be wetter than normal.

In the meantime, despite the below-normal snowfall in the lower elevations during the first half of the winter season, the long-range computer models are indicating an increased chance of more snow developing next week and into February, as we will still have the effects of the cooler La Niña. Stay tuned.

• • • 

Contact Randy Mann at [email protected].