3 Grand Canyon deaths blamed on the heat as 100+ degree days continue
Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. People lined up on the South Rim to view the Canyon. (Photo by: Jim West/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Temperatures are expected to reach triple digits again this week at Grand Canyon National Park as the popular vacation destination sees an increasing number of heat-related incidents, including the deaths of three hikers.
Big picture view:
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) issued extreme heat watches for the area from midday Monday through Tuesday, with forecasted high temperatures at the low-elevation Phantom Ranch expected to reach or exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius).
What you can do:
The U.S. National Park Service (NPS) is strongly advising visitors not to be hiking there in the middle of the day, noting the rising number of heat-related incidents. Park officials point out that the temperature at the bottom of the canyon can be 20 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than what it is at the rim, possibly deceiving hikers as they head out.
What they're saying:
"It's just a hot place at the bottom of the Grand Canyon," NPS meteorologist Justin Johndrow explained. Johndrow, who works in Flagstaff, Arizona, also pointed out that the uphill hike back from the bottom is even harder.
"That’s very strenuous even on a mild day," he continued. "Throw in temperatures of 105 to 110 degrees and that causes some pretty bad problems."
The backstory:
Three recent deaths along trails in the park have been attributed to the hot weather. The first came on June 12 when a person fell ill from the heat and later died, NPS stated. Four days later, two hikers, aged 67 and 68, were found dead on one of the most difficult major trails in the inner canyon, having likely succumbed to the heat, according to the park service.
The Source: Information for this article was taken from The Associated Press. This story was reported from Orlando.