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Grand Canyon to face extreme heat watch starting Monday
The National Weather Service issued an extreme heat watch for lower elevations of the Grand Canyon from Monday through Tuesday. Temperatures are forecast to reach as high as 112F, following three recent heat-related deaths in the park.
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Forecasters project daytime temperatures between 97F at Havasupai Gardens and 111F at Phantom Ranch, with possible peaks of 112F. The alert covers areas below 4,000 feet and warns that most individuals face risk of heat-related illness without cooling or hydration during prolonged outdoor exposure. Officials advised hikers to avoid the canyon between 10am and 4pm and to limit physical activity.
Recent fatalities The National Park Service reported that three hikers died in two separate heat-related incidents on 12 June and 16 June. A 72-year-old man died on the South Kaibab Trail, while a 67-year-old man and a 68-year-old woman died on the North Kaibab Trail.
An 18-year-old man also died earlier this month after showing heat-related symptoms. Park officials stated that temperatures in the Inner Canyon can exceed 109F in the shade during midday hours.
Additional heat advisories Extreme heat watches are also in effect for parts of Oregon from Monday through Tuesday evening and for portions of California from Tuesday evening through Thursday. Heat advisories cover areas of Alaska, Puerto Rico, Florida, Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico.
In Texas, triple-digit heat is expected from Sunday into early next week. Evacuation orders have been issued for some communities near Sedona, Arizona, due to the Pocket fire north of the city.
