Credit: Disney Fanatic This past weekend and week saw some of the highest recorded temperatures on Earth, significantly impacting the Disney Parks in California and other major theme parks across Death Valley and other states.
UPDATES AS OF JULY 12: The National Weather Service has issued an official national advisory as record-breaking high temperatures are set to cause widespread health and infrastructure issues. Take caution and ensure you and your loved ones stay cool this weekend.
A dangerous heat wave is intensifying across the nation this weekend, threatening widespread health impacts and the potential for record-breaking temperatures. pic.twitter.com/CWd0qML69g
— The Weather Channel (@weatherchannel) July 12, 2024
A dangerous heat wave is intensifying across the nation this weekend, threatening widespread health impacts and the potential for record-breaking temperatures.
Several Theme Parks, Including Disney Parks California, Sees Historic Heat Waves Wipe Out Crowds and More
Disneyland California and other major theme parks saw some of the highest temperatures ever recorded on Earth, reaching 120 degrees in some locations. As national emergencies continued to sweep the nation, closures and a mass exodus followed.
Circus Circus Adventuredome theme park, Magical Forest, Soleil Pool, K1 Speed Las Vegas, Cowabunga Canyon Waterpark, and many more experienced heat waves that led to closures and downed electrical grids.
Dangerous heat waves are sweeping across the United States, impacting millions and setting temperature records in numerous areas. The extreme heat has resulted in fatalities and is expected to drive up electric bills as Americans struggle to stay calm. In California’s Death Valley on Sunday, temperatures reached a scorching 129 degrees Fahrenheit, tying the area’s daily heat record set in 2007, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Tragically, at least one person died, and another was hospitalized in Las Vegas due to heat exposure on the same day. The deceased individual, whose identity has not been disclosed, was part of a group of six motorcyclists. Emergency helicopters could not respond because they cannot safely fly at temperatures higher than 120 degrees.
Most of Los Angeles County was under an excessive heat warning or advisory on Monday. Preliminary reports indicated that daily heat records were broken in two cities northeast of Los Angeles. Palmdale reached 114 degrees, while Lancaster recorded a high of 115 degrees, surpassing the city’s previous record.
The NWS Los Angeles also warned that high wind gusts combined with hot and dry conditions could exacerbate wildfires in the mountains, deserts, and interior valleys, with small fires at risk of growing. Currently, at least 21 wildfires are burning in California, forcing evacuations in some areas. Even Northern California and the Pacific Northwest are not spared from the extreme heat.
Redding, California, hit a record 119 degrees this weekend, and several cities in Oregon, including Portland, also broke daily heat records with temperatures expected to persist. In Las Vegas, the daily heat record was shattered on Sunday, with temperatures reaching 120 degrees, according to the NWS. The previous daily record of 116 degrees was set in 2017.
Other cities, including Kingman, Arizona, and Death Valley, California, also set or tied heat records over the weekend. On Monday, more daily heat records were anticipated to be broken. The NWS issued an excessive heat warning for the Las Vegas Valley and several surrounding areas.
The NWS conducted several experiments to demonstrate the extreme heat, including attempting to bake cookies on a car dashboard that reached 215 degrees. Within 40 minutes, the cookies began to bake. Another test involved melting crayons outside, successfully creating a rainbow of melted wax on a canvas. The financial impact of this extreme heat is also significant.
Families will likely see their electric bills increase by 7.9% from June to September this year, with an average cost of $719, compared to $661 during the same period last year.
These projections come from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA) and the Center for Energy Poverty and Climate. Over the past decade, as summer temperatures have risen and the U.S. has experienced more extreme heat events, the cost of cooling homes during the summer has gradually increased.
According to NEADA, the average cost of cooling homes has risen from $476 in 2014 to the current projected cost. Low-income families are expected to be hit the hardest, especially in states without summer shut-off protections for electricity. Only 17 states and the District of Columbia have such protections.
In other states, families unable to pay their bills could face dangerous heat conditions. Nearly 20% of low-income households lack air conditioning, and federal funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) has been reduced by $2 billion this year. With 80% of the program’s funds used for heating, only 20% is left to help low-income families stay cool during heat waves.
The NWS has also issued a heat advisory for all of Florida and parts of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Parts of the Northeast are also under a heat advisory, including most of New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, the D.C. metro area, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
Additionally, Hurricane Beryl made landfall in Texas on Monday morning, bringing heavy rain, wind, and an increased threat of tornadoes. Parts of Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Southern Illinois are under a flood watch.
The record-breaking heat, wildfires, and Hurricane Beryl’s impacts underscores the severe challenges climate change and economic pressures pose, affecting millions of Americans this summer.
The Disney parks in California and Orlando will see more record-breaking weather strike the area through the end of July and into August, with September and October slightly warmer than usual. According to scientists, These climate changes will only worsen, which could impact your upcoming trip to the most magical places on Earth.
Disney, along with other major theme park companies around the country, will have to adapt to the upcoming climate changes if they keep guests coming back through the busy summer season. Disney, Universal, Six Flags, and more are great at providing heat relief to guests through indoor rides, water attractions, and so much more.