History of Death Valley in Timeline

Death Valley is a desert valley located in Eastern California, situated in the northern Mojave Desert and bordering the Great Basin Desert. Notably, it's considered the hottest place on Earth, especially during the summer months. Its extreme temperatures and arid environment define its unique and challenging landscape.

1907: End of Borax Exploitation Period

Around 1907, the exploitation of evaporitic salts like sodium salts and borax, which had been ongoing since 1883, came to a close in Death Valley.

January 2, 1913: Lowest Temperature Recorded

On January 2, 1913, Death Valley recorded its lowest temperature at Greenland Ranch (now Furnace Creek) which was 15 °F (−9 °C).

July 10, 1913: Highest Temperature Recorded

On July 10, 1913, the United States Weather Bureau recorded a high temperature of 134 °F (56.7 °C) at Furnace Creek in Death Valley, which stands as the highest ambient air temperature ever recorded on the surface of the Earth. This reading, however, is disputed by some modern experts.

1917: Consecutive Days Reaching 120°F

In the summer of 1917, Death Valley had 52 days when the temperature reached 120 °F (49 °C) or above, with 43 of them being consecutive.

July 5, 1918: Disputed High Overnight Temperature

On July 5, 1918, the highest overnight or low temperature recorded in Death Valley was 110 °F (43 °C), but this value is disputed.

January 1922: Snow with Accumulation Recorded

In January 1922, snow with accumulation was recorded in Death Valley.

1922: Inaccurate Libya Temperature Report

In 1922, a report of a temperature of 58 °C (136 °F) in Libya was later determined to be inaccurate.

1929: No Rain Recorded

In 1929, no rain was recorded for the entire year in Death Valley.

1931: Start of Driest Stretch

1931 marked the beginning of the driest stretch on record, lasting until 1934, during which only 0.64 inches (16 mm) of rain fell in Death Valley.

February 11, 1933: Death Valley National Monument Proclaimed

On February 11, 1933, President Herbert Hoover proclaimed Death Valley National Monument, placing the area under federal protection.

1934: End of Driest Stretch

The driest stretch on record ended in 1934, with a total of only 0.64 inches (16 mm) of rain recorded in Death Valley over the 40-month period from 1931.

1953: No Rain Recorded

In 1953, no rain was recorded for the entire year in Death Valley.

July 15, 1972: Highest Surface Temperature Recorded

On July 15, 1972, the highest surface temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 201.0 °F (93.9 °C), at Furnace Creek, marking it the highest ground surface temperature ever recorded on earth.

1989: No Rain Recorded

In 1989, no rain was recorded for the entire year in Death Valley.

1994: Redesignation as National Park

In 1994, Death Valley National Monument was redesignated as Death Valley National Park and expanded to include Saline and Eureka Valleys.

January 1995: Wettest Month on Record

In January 1995, Death Valley experienced its wettest month on record, with 2.59 inches (66 mm) of rainfall.

1996: Extreme Heat in Summer

During the summer of 1996, Death Valley had 40 days over 120 °F (49 °C) and 105 days over 110 °F (43 °C).

2001: Consecutive Days Over 100°F

In the summer of 2001, Death Valley experienced the greatest number of consecutive days with a maximum temperature of at least 100 °F (38 °C), totaling 154 days.

2004: Start of Wettest Period

Mid-2004 marked the beginning of the wettest period on record. By mid-2005, nearly 6 inches (150 mm) of rain had fallen in Death Valley, leading to ephemeral lakes and wildflower blooms.

February 2005: Formation of Lake Badwater

In February 2005, a large pool of greenish water stretched across most of the valley floor, forming Death Valley's Lake Badwater.

May 2005: Valley Floor Resumes Role as Salt Flats

By May 2005, the valley floor had resumed its role as Badwater Basin, salt-coated salt flats, after the lake formed in February began to evaporate.

2005: High Rainfall and Lake Formation

In 2005, Death Valley received four times its average annual rainfall of 1.5 inches (38 mm), causing the lowest spot in the valley to fill with a wide, shallow lake.

2005: End of Wettest Period

Mid-2005 marked the end of the wettest period on record, which began in mid-2004. Nearly 6 inches (150 mm) of rain fell in Death Valley, leading to ephemeral lakes and wildflower blooms.

February 2007: Evaporation of Lake Badwater

By February 2007, Lake Badwater in Death Valley had evaporated.

July 12, 2012: Reliable High Low Temperature and Warmest 24-Hour Temperature

On July 12, 2012, Death Valley recorded a reliable record high low of 107 °F (42 °C). Also on this day, the mean 24-hour temperature recorded was 117.5 °F (47.5 °C), making it the world's warmest 24-hour temperature on record.

June 30, 2013: Verified High Temperature

On June 30, 2013, a verified temperature of 129.2 °F (54.0 °C) was recorded in Death Valley, tying with Mitribah, Kuwait, for the hottest reliably measured air temperature ever recorded on Earth.

August 16, 2020: Unverified High Temperature

On August 16, 2020, a temperature of 130 °F (54.4 °C) was recorded at the Furnace Creek weather station in Death Valley, but has not yet been officially verified.

July 9, 2021: Another Unverified High Temperature

On July 9, 2021, Death Valley again recorded a temperature of 130 °F (54.4 °C); however, that temperature has not yet been officially verified.

2022: Status of Hottest Temperature Record

As of 2022, the hottest air temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was 134 °F (56.7 °C), on July 10, 1913, at Greenland Ranch (now Furnace Creek), which is the highest atmospheric temperature ever recorded on the Earth's surface.