The list of heat records broken in the Phoenix area grows even longer, with two more broken on Wednesday morning and three more on Tuesday.
Matthew Hirsch, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said the current heatwave in Arizona is different from past heatwaves because of the length of its duration. Temperatures are expected to top 110 degrees Celsius over the weekend, and the heat isn’t likely to go away anytime soon.
Hirsch said valley residents were advised to take the heat “very seriously” and stay indoors and stay hydrated as much as possible. Cooling and hydration stations are available at nonprofits, churches, libraries and recreation centers throughout the Valley. A map of the location can be found here: azmag.gov/programs/thermal abatement network.
Excessive heat warnings, which had been in effect for several weeks in parts of the state, have been extended again, with warnings in place for the past three weeks in areas such as Phoenix.
As of Wednesday afternoon, the following counties are on alert until Saturday night:
- Maricopa County
- Pinal County
- Pima County
- Cochise County
- Santa Cruz County
- Yuma County
- La Paz County
- Graham County
- Greenlee County
- Mojave County
- Gila County
Parts of Yavapai County currently have a short-term excessive heat warning in effect through Friday night. Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties in northern Arizona have heat advisories in place through Friday night.
Here are all the records the Arizona heat has broken this month.
Wednesday: The warmest day on record, the lowest temperature, the highest temperature, and the day above 110°C
On Wednesday afternoon, temperatures hit 117 degrees Celsius around 2 p.m. in Phoenix, breaking the 34-year-old single-day temperature record set in 1989. The previous record was 116 degrees.
On Wednesday morning, Phoenix set a new coldest temperature record at Sky Harbor International Airport with a temperature of 97 degrees Celsius. The new record surpasses the previous record set in 2003 by one.
It’s also the 10th day that the night temperature in Phoenix didn’t drop below 90 degrees. “This is a record for a large US city,” said Kenneth Kunkel, an atmospheric scientist at North Carolina State University, on Tuesday.
Phoenix continued to burn late Wednesday morning, with thermometers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport hitting 110 degrees Celsius around 11am, with a forecast high of 117 degrees Celsius.
Wednesday set a new record for the 20th day that the maximum temperature exceeded 110 degrees Celsius in Phoenix.
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Tuesday: More than 110 degrees for consecutive days, record high for Phoenix, lowest temperature of the day
On Tuesday, Phoenix broke the record for consecutive temperatures above 110 degrees Celsius. The previous record was 18 days, set in 1974, and Wednesday marked the 20th day of temperatures above 110 degrees Celsius.
Temperatures in Phoenix hit 118 degrees Celsius, breaking the 115-degree daily high recorded in 1989.
On Tuesday morning, Phoenix broke another record, with a daytime low of 94 degrees Celsius, nine degrees above normal and a new record low for the day.
Monday: Longest day with minimum temperature above 90°C
On Monday, it was the eighth consecutive day that the lowest temperature exceeded 90 degrees Celsius, breaking the record for the longest day with the lowest temperature exceeding 90 degrees Celsius for seven days.
Weekends: Record lows and highs, days with nighttime temperatures above 90°C
Nine locations in northern Arizona, including Flagstaff, Payson and Page, set new daily highs on Sunday. It was just one degree below Flagstaff’s maximum temperature of 97 degrees.
On Friday, the Tucson airport broke its previous three-day record with the lowest temperature above 85 degrees Celsius for the fourth straight day.
Tucson also set a new all-day high on Sunday, reaching 111 degrees Celsius, one degree above its previous record.
On Saturday, the Phoenix area recorded 118 degrees, tying the record for the day.
Last Week: Record Highs, Longest Duration Under Excessive Heat Warnings in Tucson and Phoenix
- Thursday broke a new record. The maximum temperature at Sky Harbor Airport was 114 degrees Celsius, seven degrees higher than normal.
- On July 8, the Phoenix area broke the record for the longest heat wave warning issued on July 1 and still in effect as of July 19. The number of days on alert this time doubled Phoenix’s previous record of 8 days.
- On July 10, Tucson also broke the heat warning record by several hours, with the warning lasting nearly seven days (6 days and 16 hours) from July 2 to July 9. The previous record was set in August 2020 with 6 days and 10 hours of warning affecting the area.
hot weather tips
The Arizona Department of Health Services provided tips for preventing heat-related illness.
- Drink water: If you’re indoors all day, it’s recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day. People who spend time outdoors should drink 1-2 liters per hour they are outdoors.
- Please dress appropriately for the heat. Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing. Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin and it is recommended that you wear a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.
- Eat Smaller Meals, Eat More Often: We recommend avoiding high-protein foods that increase metabolic heat.
- Monitor at-risk people: Check friends, family, and others for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
- Slow down and avoid strenuous exercise: Strenuous exercise should only be done during the coolest part of the day, between 4am and 7am.
- please stay indoors
- Take breaks during physical activity: Take breaks in a cool place when doing outdoor activities on a hot day.
