All the records Arizona's heat has broken this month; this week's forecast
Phoenix broke two more heat records on Monday morning as warmer conditions continued into the start of the week and seemed unlikely to end anytime soon, according to the National Weather Service.
The low temperature recorded at Sky Harbor Airport on Monday morning was 95 degrees, breaking the previous record warm low of 93 degrees, set for the first time in 2003, and marking the eighth day in a row with low temperatures in the 90s. The record for the longest number of days in a row with lows at or above 90 degrees was seven days, set for the first time in 2012.
According to meteorologist Matthew Hirsch with the weather service in Phoenix, the intensity of the heat wave is on track to tie another record by Monday afternoon and break it by Tuesday.
The city's record for consecutive temperatures of 110 degrees or above is 18 days, set in 1974. Sunday marked the 17th day in a row that hit 110 degrees, recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. Phoenix-area temperatures are expected to stay between 115 and 118 degrees through this weekend, at least — "easily" breaking the record by several days, Hirsch said.
Lastest weather news: Another Phoenix heat record has been broken. Here's our tally of all the records broken during heat wave
"It looks like (the heat wave) is going to continue for quite some time," Hirsch said. "Take this heat event seriously, even if you're acclimated. This event is different from others just because it has been so prolonged, so we're urging people to take it seriously, stay hydrated and stay indoors as much as possible."
Some relief from the heat could come with monsoon storms expected to hit with chances of up to 15% for each day this week, mostly southeast of Phoenix. Although rainfall in central Phoenix is unlikely, Hirsch said the storms could produce strong winds that bring a bit of cooler air into the area.
The soaring temperatures have raised concerns among Phoenix's unhoused population, which represents half of the heat-associated deaths recorded in Maricopa County so far this year.
Cooling and hydration stations are open throughout the heat season across the Valley at nonprofits, churches, libraries and recreation centers. The map for their locations can be found at azmag.gov/Programs/Heat-Relief-Network.
'Painful to experience': Unhoused population faces brunt of scorching heatwave
Flagstaff continues to heat up
This past weekend, Flagstaff broke various daily heat records, with temperatures reaching 96 degrees on Sunday, breaking a 62-year-old record, and 95 degrees on Saturday, breaking a 53-year-old record.
Megan Taylor, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Flagstaff, says that temperatures in higher elevations are forecasted to be in the low 90s for most of the week.
But for lower elevations, she expects temperatures to remain in the upper 90s to the lower 100s for the rest of this week.
This month, Flagstaff has not seen any recorded rain. Taylor expects this to remain the case for this week, except for Monday and Tuesday.
“We have a chance for showers and thunderstorms in the forecast basically every day this week. It's looking like the best potential for that is probably going to be today and Tuesday,” Taylor said.
Lower moisture and precipitation in the area are also a cause for concern for officials, with Taylor saying that current weather conditions could be favorable for “critical patterns”.
“This could actually lead to a critical pattern,” Taylor said. “If we get any lightning starts in the next couple of days and then we follow that with some more dry and hot weather, that could become fairly critical.”
Tucson to be hit by dust, heat and rain
Tucson, too, is getting warmer, with temperatures staying near 110 degrees through this weekend, said meteorologist Kiera Malarkey.
"It's going to be pretty hot still," Malarkey said. "Stay hydrated, stay indoors or in the shade as much as you can. There are cooling centers available in the city that people can come to if they don't have anywhere to shelter from the heat."
Monday will have the best chances for rain, according to Malarkey. Although thunderstorms have already shown up in the metro area, mainly on the south and east sides of Tucson, the city has not yet seen the first rainfall of the monsoon season.
If it doesn't rain on Monday, the city could tie the record for the latest recorded monsoon rainfall on July 20, which was set over a century ago in 1901.
Tucson could see dense blowing dust on Monday afternoon into the evening due to outflowing winds from thunderstorms that could potentially grow into a haboob between Phoenix and Tucson, according to the weather service.
Residents are advised to try to stay mostly indoors to reduce dust inhalation, mainly if they have a heart disease or respiratory condition. If you encounter a dust storm while driving, the weather service recommends following these steps: pull off the road, put your car in park, turn your lights off and take your foot off the brake.
Arizona heat breaks multiple records
This heat wave has already been listed as one of the longest ones on record in the area. Here are all of the records soaring temperatures broke or tied in a span of a week and a half:
Monday marked the eighth day in a row with a low temperature above 90 degrees, breaking the record for the longest stretch of consecutive days with lows 90 degrees and above, which was seven days.
Tucson was on a similar streak. On Friday, the Tucson airport recorded a low temperature above 85 degrees for four days in a row, breaking the previous record of three days.
On July 8, the Phoenix area broke the record for the most days under an excessive heat warning, which started on July 1 and will be in place through Tuesday, July 18. According to Smith, the number of days of the current warning nearly doubles Phoenix's past record, which was eight days.
On July 10, Tucson also broke the excessive heat warning record by a few hours, with a warning that lasted close to seven days — six days, 16 hours — from July 2 through July 9. The past record was set in August 2020 with a warning that impacted the area for six days and 10 hours.
Thursday broke another record, this time a daily one. The high temperature at Sky Harbor Airport was 114, seven degrees above normal and also tying a record set only three years ago in 2020.
Saturday tied the record high of 118 degrees for that date in the Phoenix area.
Nine locations in northern Arizona, including Flagstaff, Payson and Page, among others, set new daily record highs on Sunday. The Flagstaff Airport was only one degree short of tying its all-time record high temperature of 97 degrees.
Tucson also broke a daily record high on Sunday, reaching 111 degrees and surpassing the previous record by one degree.
Hot weather tips
The Arizona Department of Health Services provided tips to prevent heat-related illness:
Drink water: It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day if people are staying inside all day. Those who spend time outdoors should drink 1 to 2 liters per hour they are outside.
Dress for the heat: wear light-weight and light-colored clothing. Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin and it is recommended to wear a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.
Eat small meals and eat more often: They recommend avoiding foods high in protein that increase metabolic heat
Monitor those at risk: Check on friends, family or others for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.
Slow down and avoid strenuous activity: It is recommended to only do strenuous activity during the coolest hours of the day, between 4 and 7 a.m.
Stay indoors
Take breaks when engaged in physical activity: Take a break in a cool place when doing activity outside on a hot day.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix heat wave breaks two more records, likely to set more
