A temperature of 54.4C – or just a tenth of a degree under 130F – has been recorded in Death Valley, California, in what is believed to be the hottest reading ever reliably recorded on the planet.

Over the stateline in Nevada a business that has been making a name for itself creating ice sculptures in Las Vegas has set up a new sideline delivering boxes of snow to Vegas residents.

The new “Snow Buddy” service from Marco Villarreal, better known under his business name, the “Vegas Ice Man” or “the man who’s making it snow in the desert.”

Marco’s company delivers 70 pounds (32kg) of snow to customers’ kerbsides, divided in to two boxes, for $50 plus delivery, with discounts for larger orders.

Add on packs like ‘DinoSnow Scavenger Hunt’ are available at a small additional cost, delivering toy dinosaurs with fact sheets to play with in the snow.

“With all this going on, it’s just been hard. It feels like you’re very cooped up because of the weather, it’s so hot out,” one local mother living in Las Vegas told a reporter, “I just thought it was a genius idea. I mean, like, deliver snow in the middle of 100+ degrees to families who are cooped up, amazing.”

Marco and his wife hit on the Snow Buddy service when a lot of his corporate ice carving work came to a halt due to the pandemic, he grinds and grates up big ice blocks to create the pure water snow.

In 100+ degree Fahrenheit (38C+) heat the snow does melt though.  The boxes of snow bear the warning, “use immediately” printed on the outside.

“It does melt, the melting rates depend on the ambient temperature and sun exposure, we recommend immediate use once received for longer play time. …to make the it last longer try to keep the snow out of the direct sunlight, play in a shaded area” the company advises.