Temperatures in California's Death Valley topped 54C (130F) this weekend as the region swelters in what could be the highest temperatures it's seen in more than a hundred years.
The desert recorded its hottest day since 1913, according to the National Weather Service - while there were also unconfirmed reports of 56C (133F) on Sunday.
If the readings are confirmed as accurate, it will be the hottest temperature the location has reached since Furnace Creek desert hit 57C (134F) in July 1913.
The National Weather Service in Las Vegas tweeted a shot of the staggering temperatures on Friday warning: "These extreme temps are NO joke! Be mindful before heading outdoors this weekend.
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"Do not put yourself, nor first responders in danger!"
According to Newsweek, the National Centre for Environmental Information (NCEI) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) are now trying to determine if the weekend's temperature is the third-highest ever recorded on Earth.
The extreme heat comes as firefighters attempt to tackle wildfires spreading across north California along its border with Nevada - around 300 miles away from Death Valley, which is in the Mojave Desert in the south-east of the state.
The Beckwourth Complex Fire is a combination of two fires that were caused by lighting and has doubled in size between Friday and Saturday.
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A report from the US Forest Service from earlier today, said the fire now covered 89,748 acres and was 23 percent contained.
The California Independent System Operator warned of potential power shortage, not only because of mounting heat, but because a wildfire in southern Oregon was threatening transmission lines that carry imported power to California.
The fire in Oregon doubled in size to 120 square miles on Saturday as it tore through heavy timber in the Fremont-Winema National Forest near the Klamath County town of Sprague River.
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Fire incident commander Al Lawson said: "The fire behaviour we are seeing on the Bootleg Fire is among the most extreme you can find and firefighters are seeing conditions they have never seen before.
"We understand the frustration of the community as the fire continues to grow.
"We also need to ensure our firefighters are able to engage safely so that they can return home at the end of this assignment to their families."
Meanwhile, the Klamath County Sheriff's Office has warned it will 'cite or arrest' anyone ignoring the evacuation order currently in place.
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In a statement the Sheriff's Office said: "We advise that if you are in a Level 3 evacuation area PLEASE EVACUATE IMMEDIATELY.
"There is a VERY high probability that we may not be able to get to you with additional warnings."
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