Death Valley National Park to see a gorgeous transformation It did look like an ancient sea had returned, due to the extraordinary rainfall that we’ve all been under for the last two months. Death Valley is used to getting all its moisture in one big drop. Revival from drought represented the second year of above-average precipitation, which heretofore received an annual average of 13 inches. That once typical, cracked, sun-baked, dirty old road is now a temporary oasis. From world-famous Broadway to innovative arts districts—this mesmerizing scene continues to attract new local and international talent.
Between September and November, Death Valley received a remarkable 2.41 inches of rainfall. Interestingly, November by itself delivered 1.76 inches, well exceeding the old record of 1.7 inches established back in 1923. In August 2023, a single day saw more than two inches of rain fall, breaking previous rainfall records for the area. This degree of precipitation is extraordinary for this typically arid, desert climate.
Death Valley is best known, of course, as the hottest place on Earth. The incredible heat of this region has led this valley to hold the record for highest temperature ever recorded at 134°F (56.7°C) back in July 1913. In October 2023, the mercury reached a staggering 128°F (53.3°C). This record-breaking heat attracted a flurry of visitors looking to bask in the valley’s exceptional heat. In 2020 and 2021, the area registered temperatures near 130°F (54.4°C), still luring tourists looking to experience one of Earth’s hottest climates.
The historic return of the big lake is hardly out of place. This year’s lake has been much smaller and shallower. It was much smaller than the one that formed two years ago after yet another torrential deluge. The lake is right next to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America. This basin, which is 282 feet below sea level, holds the title as North America’s lowest point. This geographic feature only thickens the air of mystery that shrouds how the lake formed and eventually evaporated over thousands of years.
The deluge obliterated many established trails and forced park officials to close the park until mid-October. One good thing that came from 2016’s last major flooding disaster was a jaw-dropping superbloom of wildflowers. This spectacular phenomenon showcased nature’s astounding capacity to flourish in extreme environments.
Geologically, the area was at one time covered by Lake Manly, an enormous valley lake that flourished between 128,000 and 186,000 years ago. At that time, massive glaciers covered the Sierra Nevada, and meltwater thundered into the region, feeding the lake’s waters. Though the ancient lake has come and gone, it serves as a powerful reminder of the dynamic environmental shifts that occur in Death Valley. These changes have played out over millennia.