Record heat continues to sear Las Vegas Valley

Tuesday, May 30, 2000 | 11:39 a.m.

It was so hot on Sunday in the Las Vegas Valley, people started making plans to get out of town.

The National Weather Service thermometer reached an official 108 degrees on Sunday, 2 degrees higher than the old record of 106 set in 1968.

It remained hot on Monday, but not hot enough to break the 108-degree Memorial Day record set in 1984. The mercury hit 107 degrees despite winds gusting to 30 mph.

Las Vegas did, however, set a new high for the morning low on Monday at 83 degrees. The previous record was 79 degrees in 1984.

"It's so hot, it's time to leave Vegas," said one woman as she picked up a bag of bagels at a local deli and headed for her air-conditioned home Sunday morning.

It's not a new idea. Indian tribes and pioneer families once escaped baking in the oven-like heat during Southern Nevada summers by fleeing to the mountains.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, those who owned swimming pools turned to water as a refuge. And many people without a backyard oasis apparently started dreaming about adding one. Every salesperson at Paddock Pools, Patios & Spas on Stephanie Street was busy with customers interested in installing a pool of their own as waterfalls splashed soothingly in the background.

Air-conditioned shopping malls attracted crowds who came through the double-glass doors in waves as the afternoon sun scorched the parking lot.

Snack bars, coffee bars and restaurants served cool drinks and salads to shoppers seeking shelter from the sun.

For those hoping for cooler temperatures, the thermometer is expected to dip slightly to 99 degrees on Thursday, but 100 degrees and above appear to be here to stay, forecasters said.