As summer comes to a close on Saturday, according to meteorological standards, it appears increasingly unlikely that Death Valley's infamous heat record will be broken this year.

 Earth has recently experienced its hottest day, month, and year on record, but one temperature record remains stubbornly unbroken: the world’s highest temperature, infamously held by Death Valley.

As summer officially ends on Saturday, according to meteorologists, it seems increasingly unlikely that this record will be surpassed this year.

Death Valley's record dates back over a century to a scorching July day when the temperature reportedly hit 134 degrees Fahrenheit. Even though California experienced its hottest July this summer, Death Valley remained relatively distant from its record.

Unlike many of Earth's recent heat records, which are compiled from temperature readings across the globe, this particular record reflects the temperature of a single location at a specific moment in time.

How hot can temperatures on Earth actually get? According to climate research, 134 degrees Fahrenheit—the record set in Death Valley—might be close to the highest temperature our planet can reach, as climate scientist Randy Cerveny of the World Meteorological Organization explained to USA TODAY.

However, scientists aren't entirely certain. Paul Loikith, an associate professor of geography at Portland State University, stated that the highest possible temperature Earth can achieve is still unknown.

Death Valley's extreme climate makes it an ideal spot for record-breaking temperatures. Described by weather historian Christopher Burt in his book Extreme Weather, Death Valley has "an average daily high of 115 degrees and a low of 87 during the month of July," making it the hottest location in North America and possibly the hottest place in the world.

Triple-digit temperatures are common from mid-May to early October, with the most scorching days reaching highs of 120 degrees or more, according to the National Weather Service.

Death Valley's unique geography often results in temperatures soaring close to 130 degrees, as they did in July, explained meteorologist Bob Henson of Yale Climate Connections. While the record of 134 degrees is disputed, experts agree that Death Valley has indeed reached 130 degrees.

Earth's hottest temperature will likely remain an elusive record. According to meteorologist Bob Henson, there are various forms of record heat, such as scorching daytime highs, warm nighttime lows, and record-breaking heatwave durations. However, accurately recording the hottest temperature at a single location requires exceptional precision and patience.

Paul Loikith explains, "What we do know is that the range of possible weather on Earth, or for any specific location, is much broader than we typically experience. Extremely rare and severe events occur, often at intervals too lengthy to be captured in our instrumental weather records."

He adds, "For instance, if you monitored a location's weather for 100 years, you would observe a range of temperatures, including some extremes. But if you observed it for 2,000 years, you would likely encounter extremes that were not recorded during the initial 100-year period."