Excessive Heat in Desert Southwest

[azskyman]

This time of year we have forecasts that say hot, very hot, heat advisory, and excessive heat advisory. The latter half of June, a few weeks before the migration of the monsoon season from eastern Arizona onto the desert floor, we often experience our most sizzling temperatures.

It looks as though the days ahead will now warm from the 107 range where it has been each afternoon to 110+, perhaps 115+, through the upcoming weekend.

Morning lows are relatively moderate with the dry air still in place. I've been in the low to mid 70's just about every day. Our warmest morning temperatures often occur during the monsoon when humidity and breezes can keep the pre-dawn temps well into the 80's. I had a 92-degree low last season.

For the most part this is the time of year in the Phoenix area that "tolerate" becomes the buzzword. We get through it.

Construction workers start their days early and end them early. Those working outdoors often wear long sleeves and neck and head protection. And water pours through many of us almost constantly! Summer vacation is here for the kids, so if they are home and have not fled the heat with their parents, much of what they do during the day is either indoors or surrounds a little time at the pool.

The local ice skating rink is packed.

Will keep you posted on the intensity of this event here in Scottsdale. Others here in the Southwest might want to post their temps and notes about this week's heat here too.

I'll try not to whine. We moved here voluntarily for the other 8 months of the year.

[TampaSteve]

Heh...shoulda lived out there in 1994...it was 115-118 in the shade in Vegas in the summertime.

[Aslkahuna]

Phoenix, Laughlin, Needles, Parker, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, Buckeye and Yuma all had Vegas beat as they got into the 120's with the 128F in Lake Havasu tying with Death Valley for the all time June record for the US in 1994. BTW I WAS here in 1994, also in 1990 which was almost as bad and 1989 which still ranks as AZ's hottest year ever.

Steve

[CajunMama]

Thank goodness for air conditioning!

[Category 5]

Must be REALLY hot if they issue an excessive heat warning in an area where they post frost advisorys if it drops below 90 degrees.

[Aslkahuna]

Actually, we do get freezing temperatures in AZ in the Winter. We muddle through this heat blast because we know it's the precursor to the monsoon and there's nothing better than to feel that thunderstorm outflow send the temperatures into the 60's from 95+ in five minutes.

Steve

[azskyman]

I had a 110 yesterday at the house which is the hottest thus far. Forecasters have backed off predictions of 115 to a much cooler 111 for today!

Looks as though we will stay above the 105 mark for at least the next ten days.

Morning low thus far this morning was a moderate 77.

[Category 5]

Morning low thus far this morning was a moderate 77.

I can't sleep when it's like that. Last year it was hitting 100 in the day and not falling below 80 at light for a few days, it was so uncomfortable I couldn't sleep, just laying in a pool of sweat.

[TampaSteve]

Phoenix, Laughlin, Needles, Parker, Lake Havasu, Bullhead City, Buckeye and Yuma all had Vegas beat as they got into the 120's with the 128F in Lake Havasu tying with Death Valley for the all time June record for the US in 1994. BTW I WAS here in 1994, also in 1990 which was almost as bad and 1989 which still ranks as AZ's hottest year ever.

Steve

Heh, yeah...I drove from Los Angeles to Albuquerque in August of 1994...went right through the Needles area on I-40 in my old 1988 Ford Escort...A/C wasn't working in my car, either...damn, that was brutally hot! When I crossed into AZ, I wanted to stop and jump in the Colorado River...it looked so cool and inviting! Of course, not too long afterwards, I was up in Kingman, and the temps were much cooler up across the high plateau...Flagstaff was very nice, even in the middle of the day. Altitude is nice in the summertime!

[Aslkahuna]

August wasn't even the worst part of the 1994 Summer either-June was. SE AZ was the place to be in late July into August with tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on the menu.

Steve

[azskyman]

Topped out at 112 yesterday afternoon, and this morning's low is down 5 degrees from this time yesterday. The intensity of the heat is relaxing just a bit.

A low in the 70's with very low humidity is actually quite tolerable. Same with a high of 90. Our humidity levels will begin creeping up over the next couple of weeks, and that is when the morning lows in the 80's is most uncomfortable.

[Aslkahuna]

Not to mention that sometimes PHX never cools below 90F at night in the Summer.

Steve

[azskyman]

Had a low of 92 one breezy night last summer. Warmest nights are those in which radiation from the surface has little chance of happening because of a breeze at the surface.

Today was 111 again...so three consecutive days of 110+ in the books.

[Stephanie]

Nope, that ain't for me!

I'm going to be going to Las Vegas in September though with my Mom and her fiancee. They've never been there before. I was only there once about 6 years ago. I'm looking forward to it, but I know it will still be hot. I read that the average high temp is in the 90's then.

[TampaSteve]

August wasn't even the worst part of the 1994 Summer either-June was. SE AZ was the place to be in late July into August with tornadoes and severe thunderstorms on the menu.

Steve

I was living in Los Angeles at the time...much nicer than in AZ...temps in the 80s, sunny and dry every day...perfect weather...driving to Vegas was fun...the A/C in my car didn't work, so we used to drive to Vegas at night when it was much cooler.

[TampaSteve]

Not to mention that sometimes PHX never cools below 90F at night in the Summer.

Steve

I was in Vegas in July of 1999...it was still 101 degrees at midnight...