Grand Canyon National Park officials are urging visitors to plan carefully and avoid strenuous midday hiking as extreme heat is expected early next week following several recent heat-related incidents in the inner canyon.
The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for midday Monday through Tuesday. Forecasters said temperatures at Phantom Ranch, a low-elevation area near the canyon floor, could reach or exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit. Conditions at the bottom of the canyon are often significantly hotter than at the rim, where temperatures can be 20 to 25 degrees cooler.
The National Park Service said hikers are “strongly advised” not to hike during the middle of the day. The warning follows the deaths of three hikers this month. Two hikers, ages 67 and 68, were found dead June 16 on the North Kaibab Trail while an extreme heat watch was in effect. Park officials said they appeared to have suffered symptoms of heat-related illness. A 72-year-old hiker died June 12 on the South Kaibab Trail after becoming ill in the heat.
Meteorologists and park officials said Grand Canyon hiking can be misleading because descents may begin in cooler conditions, while return climbs require strenuous elevation gain in hotter temperatures. Justin Johndrow of the National Weather Service office in Flagstaff said the region is nearing its hottest period of the year, before monsoon rains may bring some relief later in the summer.
The broader western United States is also experiencing above-average temperatures, with hotter weather expected in coming days. Officials said dry heat and low humidity are increasing fire danger.
South of the park, evacuations were ordered near Oak Creek Canyon, north of Sedona, where a wildfire burned several hundred acres. Authorities also closed about 30 miles of a nearby state highway. Multiple agencies were responding to the fire.