It was so hot that the sun seemed to be like a fire ball placed above everyone's head, scorching off a layer of everybody's skin.
It was extremely hot, and the sun, as if a ball of fire, hung above people's heads, roasting off a layer of their skin *take note that I did not check the dictionary, so it will be inaccurate. and this kind of 开头 is so nostalgic. in primary school, after 一个风和日丽的早上, this was the most common...
Not sure if you still need help, but my take would be v similar The weather was scorching, and it seemed as if the Sun was a fireball pinned onto the top of everyone's heads, burning off a layer of skin.