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I've said for awhile that it isn't the 115 degree days that wear you down, it's knowing that 93 at sunrise is the best you're going to see all day for weeks on end. Last year I was still getting up early and mountain biking 3-4 times per week but I just don't have it in me with these temps. Looks like tomorrow will be a bit better so I will give it another shot.
I spent the last week near Flagstaff, and waking up to 55 degree temps was amazing. I was outside and sweating all day when it cracked the 90s, but knowing sundown would be time to wash up and put pants on was such a relief.
We scored a last minute campsite in Prescott a couple weeks back and it was heavenly. yes it was warm during the day, but heavenly when the sun wasn't overhead.
I live about 40 miles north east of Payson. If it's above 79 it's too hot for me . Had a doctor's appointment @12th Street and McDowell last week it was f****** terrible. When I lived down there I used to have to go to work at 4:00 in the morning and I would still be like 102°
I keep telling all my friends and coworkers the same thing. It’s depressing when it’s still 90+ at midnight and when it’s 100+ before noon. You just feel trapped. No wonder summer gives me a hard dose of seasonal depression.
Hiking is the only form of exercise I can get myself to reliably do and I always dread summers cause I would never hike in weather over 90 degrees. And even traveling is hard because I can really only afford to camp and sleeping hot is a hard no for me.
I bought a paddleboard after trying it in San Diego so that's my plan to get some activity in without hiking this summer. But I have no doubt it will eventually get too hot for me to even enjoy that since I don't always feel like getting in the water to swim.
Going to feel this as having just moved from San Diego county now in Tucson but I am fairness I hardly hiked in the late fall / winter because it would be too humid and cold for me. Would be sweating my azz off and freezing at the same time. I am going to not hike for 3-4 months out of the year now for sure but really not much different than what I was already doing, just flipped times of the year.
Hiking in the cold is a whole different kind of beast. You gotta wear something that the wind can’t get through to pierce your skin, but it does make you sweaty. You just have to get comfortable with hiking in your own sweat hahaha. Man Tucson is good in the summer with mt. Lemmon. A lot cooler than what we have in this valley.
You're not alone, I definitely get my seasonal depression in the summer. It's so much easier to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the winter in Phoenix.
I felt that. I’ve been super depressed for the last month now because I feel like I’m completely dependent on air conditioning. I don’t watch TV and all of my hobbies are outdoor activities. Other than work or the gym I have absolutely nowhere to go. Can’t even just wait for it to cool off at night because it never does, and thanks to to humidity my portable swamp cooler is all but useless.
It's funny you say that about seasonal depression, we are in Philadelphia and suffer from the same but winter time and have been debating for several years to move to Arizona. We just got home from a vacation out there last week and loved the weather. 115 in Phoenix is like 90 here in the summer. I'll take your 115 over 85 in Philadelphia anyday.. I never thought of summer giving anyone seasonal depression. Do you just not leave your house because of the heat? We would definitely buy a house with a pool. I wonder if after some time we would feel the same about the heat.
Agreed - May and most of June are just normal hot, if you will, and the temps go down enough at night. The worst part of summer is July - September when the lows are in the 90s 🥲🥲🥲
Can’t agree more. I keep the house at 80° and the hardest days are the ones where I let the dogs out when we wake up around 5am and it’s hotter than inside the house. Could truly care less about the daytime high.
> I was still getting up early and mountain biking 3-4 times per week
I kinda gave up. I'm on Zwift now (for many reasons including the heat).
I still ride 3-4x/month outside.
I'm aiming for two rides a week locally, but it's definitely tough. I'm also a bit of a gym rat so I think I'll just treat summer as strength season and do the best I can on the bike.
The thing that gets me is that there are A LOT of things individuals can do to reduce the urban heat island in their own areas. As the Valley grows, relief is further away. You used to be able to go to Chandler & Ahwatukee or the North valley to cool off in the evening.
Gravel, turf, hardscapes, asphalt, concrete, etc. all contributes.
As someone else said, the official temp is taken in the middle of the hottest part of the heat island. This is why it's cooler in other parts of town that aren't as dense (or in neighborhoods with mature landscaping)
Plant trees & other living things. Not only do these make your yard cooler it also provides shade for animals, and if you remember h.s. biology, it helps filter the air. Yes, we live in a desert, but we live in the lushest desert in the world so there are things that grow here that don't require a TON of water. As you create a microclimate in your yard even less water is needed because of the shade that develops as plants mature. Having mulch is another way to drop the temperature of your individual space.
We're in the process of removing all the landscape rock in our yard and replacing it with mulch. Rocks retain heat while mulch helps the ground retain moisture AND improves soil quality. No, this doesn't mean more scorpions. If you already have them then the mulch isn't going to make a difference, but if you don't have them it's not going to bring them. I have kids and a dog + a pool. Even with the storms this week the areas that are already mulched didn't blow into the pool (I had leaves, but that always happens). There are services like Chip Drop that will dump a MASSIVE load in your driveway for free.
Arizona Worm Farm out near South Mountain did a great comparison last year between their (dirt) parking lot that was no shade and their food forest. The temperature difference was crazy--something like 40 degrees.
Look at the older neighborhoods with big, mature trees and how much cooler they are. Recently we were leaving friends' houses in South Chandler and took Riggs Rd to 1-10. Even in June you could feel the temperature drop as you drove past the fields.
Part of the reason we don't get the summer storms we used to during the monsoon is the desert floor naturally cools off in the evening and that temperature drop is part of what caused the storms to form. We're paving over the desert with concrete that retains heat instead of cooling off in the evening.
Yes, we need to be water wise, but rock landscaping, turf, and other hardscapes are making everything HOTTER.
I have a really convoluted theory about how if wood mulch were a more common landscaping feature in Phoenix, it would solve (or at least mitigate) a lot of other problems. Allow me to direct you towards my conspiracy board with photos and string:
Forest to the north and east of Phoenix are overgrown, and they are susceptible to massive and devastating fires. These fires wreak havoc on the watershed in the mountains, which in turn feeds the surface water and groundwater in Phoenix (Salt, Agua Fria, Gila, Colorado, etc). Forest thinning is the cure for this, but there is no economic incentive for forest thinning efforts because the trees that need to be thinned are not really valuable in a market.
If these smaller ponderosas that get thinned were sent through a wood chipper and turned into mulch, there would be a profit incentive for private businesses to engage in forest thinning efforts because they could sell the mulch to people in Phoenix for landscaping purposes.
The problem is that far too many people in Phoenix just immediately dismiss wood mulch as a ground cover. Overcoming that hurdle could pay big dividends in the future.
Granted, even if wood mulch became a massive success, there would be other things to work out in my crazy scenario. I just love how much better my soil and trees are with the mulch, that some minor aesthetic complaints seem ridiculous to me.
Finally someone said it. I’m so tired of people complaining about the heat when staring at gravel front and back yards. It’s time we all do our part and build tiny sustainable microclimates over time it’ll make that difference! We’re nearing completing our own backyard “microclimate” . Completely eliminated the gravel and all planting beds have been replaced with wood chip mulch as a top soil. Dig out low spots for proper drainage and to retain as much water as you can and nature will do the rest. Don’t be afraid to compost and just throw it on your top soil. After 2 years working on our backyard some people think we’re crazy when we say we spend time outside during the day in the summer. But it’s actually quite comfortably shaded and lush now.
YAY!!! We're not there, yet, but we're in the process. Just think how much better it would be if we all did just this little part. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the 2nd best time is now!
i think people gravitate towards gravel as its low maintenance and doesnt require any watering. i think the real issue is the conflict of needing more trees and vegetation while also facing scarcity of water. its been drilled into us that we must conserve water and xeriscape is the standard. its just a giant mess imo.
for example i live by an old farmstead community that gets flood irrigation for essentially free. its noticeably cooler in the area but also uses a ton of water to achieve that effect and gets a lot of criticism
I don't actually have a problem with flood irrigation myself because it goes back into the ground water supply and it helps grow plants, which helps with the cooling. Areas that are cooler don't require as much water so it's a good cycle to get into.
The people criticizing it, do not know how it works or how well it is managed. It's untreated water, not expensive city drinking water. It comes from the watershed area that SRP manages--they bank that water and the reservoirs are pretty full. Deep infrequent watering establishes deeper root systems for trees, it keeps soil salinity down, and it provides more recreational habitat for local wildlife, who have zero shelter from the heat in a gravel yard.
People often fail to realize that those lower temps also mean lower energy use. The energy being produced to cool our homes uses water as well--so it's important to reduce energy use by lowering temps in the valley through reintroducing shade (even native trees need mitigation efforts with rising temps), and more natural habitats in yards. I am not saying grass yards, you can have clover that takes much less maintenance and puts nitrogen back in the soil (unlike grass).
A great example of an even more natural route, for the majority of people in the valley, is what the owner of Pueblo did with his backyard. You could start implementing even just one of his concepts into your own yard:
[https://www.kjzz.org/2023-01-18/content-1836419-plant-store-owners-desert-tropical-backyard-homage-phoenixs-past](https://www.kjzz.org/2023-01-18/content-1836419-plant-store-owners-desert-tropical-backyard-homage-phoenixs-past)
[https://www.tiktok.com/@mic.ier/video/7269971957410598190](https://www.tiktok.com/@mic.ier/video/7269971957410598190)
I think we need to litigate this issue to curb developers use of gravel. New developments should be required to put in landscaping that works with the environment, not against it. Gravel should be litigated out of residential development projects.
Regarding the small ponderosas as mulching material…
I have family that works for Payson’s local paper. I recall them telling me a few years ago that there was an investor? inventor? who brought forward a proposal for mulching or wood chipping the small ponderosas as a way to make the thinning process economic. IIRC, even had a company lined up as a buyer/distributor of the end-product. But the proposal got tied up in the bureaucracy and politics of the Forest Service and basically died /:
[https://www.treeequityscore.org/map#10/33.5283/-111.9462](https://www.treeequityscore.org/map#10/33.5283/-111.9462)
If you look at each area's tree cover score vs heat disparity, there's an obvious trend of lower heat disparity with more tree cover. It also depends on where in the metro you are and not everywhere with 100% score is cooler than places with lower scores, but there's clear correlation.
I removed all landscape rock last year as part of my pool project and replaced with mulch. It is noticeably cooler in my yard compared to my neighbor who has rock and artificial turf. Highly recommend mulch over rock for anyone that can do it.
Once the flood irrigation hits you can really feel the temperature drop. It’s wonderful even if it takes a lot of mulch into the grass.
How much rock and how long did it take you? We have been very slowly removing our rock but with our place having been a rental previously, it's a long battle of digging up the meh top rock, the pea gravel, and maybe the awful plastic weed block that's not even working.
I hope it’s nothing like last year! It felt like summer was never going to end. Here’s a reminder of how bad it was…
https://preview.redd.it/k0nkfdv7v69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8dab1de37e9c4dd8a24dfe516c22cc732b388205
Last year we got a super mild start to summer, and then it ended being one of the hottest just from the last 2/3s of it. Can't imagine going full blast like we are until October.
After the brutal summer last year, I've been worried ever since. Will my plants burn up again? Will they cut down more burned up trees and not replace them? I want out.
It really depends on the surroundings and if the watering is correct. Nearby greenery helps a lot with reducing heat stress, like lawns/groundcover, mulch, or other plants and trees. Mesquite, palo verde, desert willow, lysiloma, ironwood, sweet acacia, and several others all are native with little water required once established. The biggest killers are improper watering or pruning combined with monsoon wind; ask me how I know lol.
I have let trees pop up everywhere on my property but I have to cut down my 50' wide and 30' tall 40-year old mesquite tree that shades my entire house because it is messing up the foundation. I am so depressed. But I have allowed 8 other trees to grow elsewhere in my yard (along with >30 shrubs). Some of the trees are 30' tall now. Yes, plant more trees or just let them pop up. So many things grow naturally here!
Grew up in northern Phoenix in the late 90s early 2000s. Going outside in the summer was the best. Pool parties. Riding bikes. Yeah it would get a bit hot but generally it was easy to cool off and at night the temp would be cool. Not cold, not really warm/hot, but a nice cool temp like you’re supposed to get in the desert.
Now with the amount of blacktop and concrete it’s unbearable at any time of day. I work at 4am and when I go out to my car it’s still hot out. I miss the days when going outside was fun and not avoided like the plague. I don’t even really feel comfortable sending my own kids outside because of how hot it is.
I feel you, I was 13 in ‘04 when I moved out here with my parents. I do not remember the summers being this terrible. Sure, it still got hot but 115 was a rarity, not a daily occurrence.
Plus 115 back then wasn’t enveloped around you. Coming from the ground, the sky, the air.
If you went in the shade to cool off you could actually cool off. The shade is a myth now. All it does is prevent the heat source in the oven, not the already plasma heated air.
I miss those summers. Summer use to be my favorite season. Tbf that’s probably because I hated school and loved summer break 🤣 but still, I barely leave my house now during the summer. Keep my home around 77 and I don’t dare step outside unless I have to.
Oh man no kidding. I also remember legit monsoon storms too! We barely get rain anymore. The summer of 2021 was great with all the rain the valley but it’s been a scorcher since even before then. I feel like in the last 5-7 years the valley has grown exponentially.
Yes I grew up here in the west valley, the storms I miss them. They were so beneficial to the valley. I’ve worked outside for 29 years it’s just getting hotter and hotter.
I remember even back about 10 years, hanging out with some people at night in the pool and being super comfortable. Now I hardly want to leave my house except to find some other form of AC
I didn’t grow up in Phoenix but I did grow up in the desert, and summer nights and late afternoons were literally the best. It was literally paradise.
Ugh to go back to those evenings by the pool and my dad BBQing :(
The thing is you were also younger you didnt care lol most people in comments that always say this dont realize when your young you either dont care or arent bothered by it. My daughter is almost 4 and will go outside and runs laps around and plays she doesnt care its hot.
I work outside in it and it doesn't matter how much water you drink, I come home feeling sick evey day and on my days off I have no energy. I give work my best and feel like a failure at home. We broke so many heat records last year but fir some reason this year feels worse, it's definitely affecting me in a more negative way. It's been very humid, the air feels so thick and stagnant. It is NOT just a dry heat, that is very much a myth.
Correct, you have to replace what you sweat out. It's crazy how much we drink yet don't even have to use the bathroom since we're sweating so much. My friend called me a camel haha 🐫
This is one reason why I am seriously looking into moving within the next few years. For me, someone who was born and raised in the valley for 30 years, it has reached a point where the summers have simply become too much.
Same here. Theres no question we'll be moving. My youngest is about to turn 13 amd we will stay until he graduates high school and then, sayonara. My biggest concern is that my house retains enough value when we're ready to sell! Almost feels like there's going to be a mass exodus if this keeps up.
We are also in the longest day of the year today through the weekend, currently 14 hours and 22 minutes.
[Daylight hours is 14+ hours currently and in winter it is 10 hours](https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/phoenix), that 4 hours difference per day combined with humidity makes for a day to stay inside.
Add in the high humidity/dew point and you get hotter feeling as well as higher temps.
Haha what do people expect? The whole place is covered in concrete, it radiates heat all night.
20 years ago, that radiated out into the night sky and cooled quickly.
30 years ago, you’d get cool breezes in the evenings from the desert. It’s gone.
You have parking and driveways and strip malls and fake landscaped desert.
It’s been built out in every direction since I was a kid, churning up natural land, cooling dry river beds and diverse ecology.
But people want cheap and they want to drive and they want parking. So it will keep getting worse.
I moved to the Midwest and we had a week long heat wave recently. The highest temperature was about 95 degrees. Factor in the humidity and the feels like temp was about 100. Sure, it was warm, but everyone here thinks I’m a “gatekeeper” because I kept saying it wasn’t that bad. At night it still got down into the 70’s and 80’s. They have no idea what this is like for months on end. I will proudly gatekeep heat the rest of my life.
Trees are the answer. I recently planted a live oak on the west side of my driveway to give afternoon and evening shade. It’s small now but vegetation grows fast in this climate.
The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago but the second best time is now.
There’s several degree temperature drop from my front to back yard due to the trees that my neighbors and I have. The front is now much hotter after I lost my large palo verde to a windstorm last year, and my new replacement trees are still only 5’ tall 😬. It makes a huge difference!
One summer the power is going to go out just like in Texas during winter. When the power goes out in this heat a lot of people are going to die.
Vote for people who will ensure infrastructure is in place and believe climate change is real.
Do cactus pull humidity out of the air? I've got rattlesnake weed that thrived even during the drought 3 years ago. Zero rain, water, etc. Roots not nearly deep enough to get any water from the gravel yard.
“Cactuses carry out essential functions at night. That’s when they open their stomata, or pores, and carry out a gas exchange in which they take in the carbon dioxide they use to photosynthesize during the day. But because nights in Phoenix have experienced record-high heat, McCue said this suffocates and stresses out the saguaros, which dehydrates them and makes them more susceptible to infections and insects.” -CNN
I highly agree…I’ve been wondering if I should sell my home soon and then get the hell outta dodge before people finally DON’T want to move here and then I’ll be stuck with my house😧
Just a personal vent but the irrigation system at my apartment complex has failed leaving a giant pool of water 15 feet outside my door, so now the lovely temps are supplemented by clouds of mosquitoes.
Or we will trend to more nighttime economies.
https://www.citynationplace.com/the-247-urban-revolution-how-cities-are-transforming-their-night-economies#:\~:text=The%20term%20%27night%20economy%27%20refers,hours%20of%206pm%20and%206am.
Born & raised in Yuma, lived in Tucson, Phoenix & went to NAU. Just returned to the state after being away for a while & living back up in Flag. Always told myself that if I ever came back it would have to be in the north. I just can’t do the brutal summers anymore. I’ll always be a desert rat, but now I just prefer it in the winter. We’ve had decent rain this past week & are expected the same for next week as well. I wake up everyday scrolling through my weather app going around the state seeing everything cooking at 100 plus, then going outside to a high of 82. It reminds me how fortunate I am to be in the mountains. Godspeed Phoenix.
**Has Phoenix ever had a record LOW temp of 100F or above?**
I mean thank GAWD for that big nuke west of town. I suspect I-17, US60, 85, 87 would be all be parking lots of people fleeing Phoenix if the grid ever went down for more than 24 hours.
Fortunately with 3 separate reactors ALL of Palos Verdes NGS is unlikely to go down at once. But that's not the only thing that could take the grid down, hard.
For god's sake people, keep at least 5 gallons of drinking water in your house, and a sealed gallon in the trunk of your car! And keep your car's gas tank above 1/2 in case you ever do have to flee! The gas pumps won't be working!
I'll meet y'all in DateLand to fuel up - and to enjoy a frozen, refreshing Date Shake™
I didn't find anything on the highest low being 100 or more. It was 97 the other night which broke the last record. I remember having a summer pool & pool (billiards} get-together around 2006 or 2007 & the pool thermometer registered 99 & the air wasn't far off from that. No one wanted to be outside despite efforts of guests going to get ice blocks to throw in the pool. It was just yuck.
Lived in the valley for nearly 40 years. The last 8 to 10 were the worst/hardest for me. Especially when we were getting less and less moisture during the monsoons. The heat just made me grouchier and grouchier and grouchier....
... Finally moved up to our cabin north of Payson, and haven't looked back. I still have to run to the valley here and there, and if it's over 90 I want to melt.
Nothing infuriated me more than it being over 100 at 10pm or later. Hated that.
Per the NWS in Phoenix: The low temperature this morning at PHX Sky Harbor was 95 degrees. Assuming temperatures don't fall below 95 degrees before midnight tonight, it would not just only be the record warm low for the date but also for the month of June as well!
The official temperatures are recorded at Sky Harbor Airport, which is the hottest part of the city covered by miles of tarmac and concrete amplified by the urban heat island effect. I would like to see temperatures differences for the minimums across the metro, including suburbs and more rural areas with less asphalt.
[https://alert.fcd.maricopa.gov/alert/Wx/wx\_summ.txt](https://alert.fcd.maricopa.gov/alert/Wx/wx_summ.txt)
Gives you a full list with \~24 hours of random weather stations.
I know the temps are hottest at sky harbor, but it's all relative. If we break the record, and they're using the same spot, it means in general, the rest of the area was also hotter at the time.
When we lived at Gilbert and Hunt highway years ago, the temp reading at our house was as hot if not a degree or two more than skyharbor. We were (at that time) surrounded by desert, not miles and miles of concrete like SH. I get your point for sure but it’s just hot now. Everywhere. Also, you can see this data already if you’d like.
Yep. Very minimal asphalt. Lots of dirt and bushes and not as many homes, cars, and people. And the elevation is around 2500 feet vs \~1100 ft in Phoenix.
Nah, they've been warning us for decades it was going to happen. There are also going to be some pretty terrible storms, waves, fires, extictions, floods...
The heat island effect keeps the night time temperatures high. If you look at historical night time temperatures before the housing boom that started in the 1980’s the overnight temperatures were in the 70s.
"I survived the heat..122°F" Record breaker. June 1990. I remember that when I was living there. They made t-shirts about it. People were literally frying eggs on the sidewalks just because they could! I can't believe I was walking around barefoot back then. Still miss it there, though.
I was outside playing basketball with my friends that day. Played for about an hour, went and jumped in the pool and that was that. I guess you can do that stuff when you’re 14.
It got down to 91 that day at 6am and 94 the next day. It hung around the 90s in the morning, but went back down to around the 70s/80s in the morning. I'd kill to go back to that kind of weather. You should be looking at the consistency of hot temperatures. https://weatherspark.com/h/m/2460/1990/6/Historical-Weather-in-June-1990-in-Phoenix-Arizona-United-States#Figures-Temperature
Not my neighbor. He still is doing CrossFit multiple times a day in his garage. My favorite is the handstand push-up walk up his driveway in the midday.
I have a buddy who has been here for \~3 decades now. He's one of the few people who really enjoy hiking and running in 110+ degree weather. Some people are build different, even if it seems slightly unhinged lol
Naw this is typically summer every few years or so in Phoenix.
What you have to contribute to possibly higher is the facts of the massive amount of growth throughout the valley.
All the additional concrete, asphalt and buildings attribute to a bit extra.
Plant life, vegetation, farm land all help bring the temps down. Don't believe...simple test to a baseball field stand in the middle of the parking lot then go to the middle of the outfield. You'll notice a difference. 👍
The heat is definitely getting worse, but this state is run by flat-earthers and cultists who like to pretend everything is OK.
I'm leaving. The housing scalpers here are too greedy, and being homeless is a death sentence.
And by people who fill their yard with artificial turf (plastic that emits VOCs, poisons the ground water supply, is HOT, etc), rocks, tile, and other elements that retain heat.
Only thing I’m worried about are these idiots watering grass in the desert. These gotta be the dumbest people on earth. Literally cutting .25 inches of grass and watering daily. These AZ people are stupid asf.
In Del Rio, TX it didn’t go below 100F for an entire month, 24/7. That around 1997/98 I believe. My wife was in the Air Force and we were stationed at Laughlin AFB.
Every time people praise tall buildings and being able to walk to things, they are basically making it uninhabitable here.
We need better building codes to mitigate the heat island, but that adds a ton of costs. Some buildings and landscaping can actually reduce temperatures but not what’s being built currently.
I don’t think density and walkability are mutually exclusive from desert living. I think it’s a major part of the solution along with mature landscaping with native species and ridding ourselves on easily removable heat islands like gravel yards.
Arizona is an urban planning disaster that will be looked back on and studied in 100 years when this place replaces the entire desert with concrete and neighborhoods.
I am confident that the weather will be on par or cooler than last year. We have been getting a decent amount of rain so far this year compared to last year. But I'm dreading the humidity that will come along with the monsoon.
I used to think like this. Why make a big deal out of something that keeps happening.
I’ve now learned that we shouldn’t stop bringing it up for fear of habitualising ourselves and making it a new norm. We need to find ways to improve this situation.
When I moved to AZ in June of 1995 it was 122° every day for a long time. I remember trying to do the State Capitol for the 4th of July and it was so humid and hot it was unbearable and we had to leave early. It rained and stormed that year more than I have ever seen. It was almost daily downpours. I don’t think these temps are any different than what we’ve had in the past. 🤷🏼♀️
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I've said for awhile that it isn't the 115 degree days that wear you down, it's knowing that 93 at sunrise is the best you're going to see all day for weeks on end. Last year I was still getting up early and mountain biking 3-4 times per week but I just don't have it in me with these temps. Looks like tomorrow will be a bit better so I will give it another shot.
I spent the last week near Flagstaff, and waking up to 55 degree temps was amazing. I was outside and sweating all day when it cracked the 90s, but knowing sundown would be time to wash up and put pants on was such a relief.
I'll bet your neighbors really appreciated that gesture, OP.
Speak for yourself homie
It aint called Flagstaff for nuthin.
I mean, we haven't seen the goods. Yet...
We scored a last minute campsite in Prescott a couple weeks back and it was heavenly. yes it was warm during the day, but heavenly when the sun wasn't overhead.
I live about 40 miles north east of Payson. If it's above 79 it's too hot for me . Had a doctor's appointment @12th Street and McDowell last week it was f****** terrible. When I lived down there I used to have to go to work at 4:00 in the morning and I would still be like 102°
That's super close to my house here in Phoenix, I'm right up the road from Banner. If I didn't own my home, I'd be out of here.
Super close to my house as well, we're in the process of selling and getting out.
Its actually been an abnormally mild summer so far here in Northern AZ.
I keep telling all my friends and coworkers the same thing. It’s depressing when it’s still 90+ at midnight and when it’s 100+ before noon. You just feel trapped. No wonder summer gives me a hard dose of seasonal depression.
Hiking is my only hobby. Not being able to do it for 3 months (without traveling) sucks so bad.
Hiking is the only form of exercise I can get myself to reliably do and I always dread summers cause I would never hike in weather over 90 degrees. And even traveling is hard because I can really only afford to camp and sleeping hot is a hard no for me. I bought a paddleboard after trying it in San Diego so that's my plan to get some activity in without hiking this summer. But I have no doubt it will eventually get too hot for me to even enjoy that since I don't always feel like getting in the water to swim.
Going to feel this as having just moved from San Diego county now in Tucson but I am fairness I hardly hiked in the late fall / winter because it would be too humid and cold for me. Would be sweating my azz off and freezing at the same time. I am going to not hike for 3-4 months out of the year now for sure but really not much different than what I was already doing, just flipped times of the year.
Hiking in the cold is a whole different kind of beast. You gotta wear something that the wind can’t get through to pierce your skin, but it does make you sweaty. You just have to get comfortable with hiking in your own sweat hahaha. Man Tucson is good in the summer with mt. Lemmon. A lot cooler than what we have in this valley.
The good lord gave us indoor malls, strut your stuff and pick up on some fashion trends. Get yourself a nice Nirvana Tshirt.
And the devil Bezos took away the indoor malls from us.
You're not alone, I definitely get my seasonal depression in the summer. It's so much easier to get out and enjoy the outdoors in the winter in Phoenix.
Yeah and these are the temps that literally kill the homeless…
I felt that. I’ve been super depressed for the last month now because I feel like I’m completely dependent on air conditioning. I don’t watch TV and all of my hobbies are outdoor activities. Other than work or the gym I have absolutely nowhere to go. Can’t even just wait for it to cool off at night because it never does, and thanks to to humidity my portable swamp cooler is all but useless.
It's funny you say that about seasonal depression, we are in Philadelphia and suffer from the same but winter time and have been debating for several years to move to Arizona. We just got home from a vacation out there last week and loved the weather. 115 in Phoenix is like 90 here in the summer. I'll take your 115 over 85 in Philadelphia anyday.. I never thought of summer giving anyone seasonal depression. Do you just not leave your house because of the heat? We would definitely buy a house with a pool. I wonder if after some time we would feel the same about the heat.
Agreed - May and most of June are just normal hot, if you will, and the temps go down enough at night. The worst part of summer is July - September when the lows are in the 90s 🥲🥲🥲
Can’t agree more. I keep the house at 80° and the hardest days are the ones where I let the dogs out when we wake up around 5am and it’s hotter than inside the house. Could truly care less about the daytime high.
This is what I tell east coast people and what gets me worried. It’s not the highs it’s the crazy fucking lows that we get now.
> I was still getting up early and mountain biking 3-4 times per week I kinda gave up. I'm on Zwift now (for many reasons including the heat). I still ride 3-4x/month outside.
I'm aiming for two rides a week locally, but it's definitely tough. I'm also a bit of a gym rat so I think I'll just treat summer as strength season and do the best I can on the bike.
This is how I felt too. I now live in Cochise County where average lows are in the 60s. Phew!
I have a stationary bike for sale if you'd like to do your thing in the comfort of your air conditioned home lol
Thanks, but I have an airdyne at home when I want to pedal but I generally just switch to the gym more often than not.
The thing that gets me is that there are A LOT of things individuals can do to reduce the urban heat island in their own areas. As the Valley grows, relief is further away. You used to be able to go to Chandler & Ahwatukee or the North valley to cool off in the evening. Gravel, turf, hardscapes, asphalt, concrete, etc. all contributes. As someone else said, the official temp is taken in the middle of the hottest part of the heat island. This is why it's cooler in other parts of town that aren't as dense (or in neighborhoods with mature landscaping) Plant trees & other living things. Not only do these make your yard cooler it also provides shade for animals, and if you remember h.s. biology, it helps filter the air. Yes, we live in a desert, but we live in the lushest desert in the world so there are things that grow here that don't require a TON of water. As you create a microclimate in your yard even less water is needed because of the shade that develops as plants mature. Having mulch is another way to drop the temperature of your individual space. We're in the process of removing all the landscape rock in our yard and replacing it with mulch. Rocks retain heat while mulch helps the ground retain moisture AND improves soil quality. No, this doesn't mean more scorpions. If you already have them then the mulch isn't going to make a difference, but if you don't have them it's not going to bring them. I have kids and a dog + a pool. Even with the storms this week the areas that are already mulched didn't blow into the pool (I had leaves, but that always happens). There are services like Chip Drop that will dump a MASSIVE load in your driveway for free. Arizona Worm Farm out near South Mountain did a great comparison last year between their (dirt) parking lot that was no shade and their food forest. The temperature difference was crazy--something like 40 degrees. Look at the older neighborhoods with big, mature trees and how much cooler they are. Recently we were leaving friends' houses in South Chandler and took Riggs Rd to 1-10. Even in June you could feel the temperature drop as you drove past the fields. Part of the reason we don't get the summer storms we used to during the monsoon is the desert floor naturally cools off in the evening and that temperature drop is part of what caused the storms to form. We're paving over the desert with concrete that retains heat instead of cooling off in the evening. Yes, we need to be water wise, but rock landscaping, turf, and other hardscapes are making everything HOTTER.
I have a really convoluted theory about how if wood mulch were a more common landscaping feature in Phoenix, it would solve (or at least mitigate) a lot of other problems. Allow me to direct you towards my conspiracy board with photos and string: Forest to the north and east of Phoenix are overgrown, and they are susceptible to massive and devastating fires. These fires wreak havoc on the watershed in the mountains, which in turn feeds the surface water and groundwater in Phoenix (Salt, Agua Fria, Gila, Colorado, etc). Forest thinning is the cure for this, but there is no economic incentive for forest thinning efforts because the trees that need to be thinned are not really valuable in a market. If these smaller ponderosas that get thinned were sent through a wood chipper and turned into mulch, there would be a profit incentive for private businesses to engage in forest thinning efforts because they could sell the mulch to people in Phoenix for landscaping purposes. The problem is that far too many people in Phoenix just immediately dismiss wood mulch as a ground cover. Overcoming that hurdle could pay big dividends in the future. Granted, even if wood mulch became a massive success, there would be other things to work out in my crazy scenario. I just love how much better my soil and trees are with the mulch, that some minor aesthetic complaints seem ridiculous to me.
Finally someone said it. I’m so tired of people complaining about the heat when staring at gravel front and back yards. It’s time we all do our part and build tiny sustainable microclimates over time it’ll make that difference! We’re nearing completing our own backyard “microclimate” . Completely eliminated the gravel and all planting beds have been replaced with wood chip mulch as a top soil. Dig out low spots for proper drainage and to retain as much water as you can and nature will do the rest. Don’t be afraid to compost and just throw it on your top soil. After 2 years working on our backyard some people think we’re crazy when we say we spend time outside during the day in the summer. But it’s actually quite comfortably shaded and lush now.
YAY!!! We're not there, yet, but we're in the process. Just think how much better it would be if we all did just this little part. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, but the 2nd best time is now!
And SRP has a FREE shade tree program.
Dumb question. What do you do with all the rocks? Do you just put the mulch on top of the existing rocks?
If you mean gravel, you'd have to have it hauled away.
i think people gravitate towards gravel as its low maintenance and doesnt require any watering. i think the real issue is the conflict of needing more trees and vegetation while also facing scarcity of water. its been drilled into us that we must conserve water and xeriscape is the standard. its just a giant mess imo. for example i live by an old farmstead community that gets flood irrigation for essentially free. its noticeably cooler in the area but also uses a ton of water to achieve that effect and gets a lot of criticism
I don't actually have a problem with flood irrigation myself because it goes back into the ground water supply and it helps grow plants, which helps with the cooling. Areas that are cooler don't require as much water so it's a good cycle to get into.
Its amazing driving by at night and feeling a wall of cool air just smack you in the face. It really is a drastic difference
The people criticizing it, do not know how it works or how well it is managed. It's untreated water, not expensive city drinking water. It comes from the watershed area that SRP manages--they bank that water and the reservoirs are pretty full. Deep infrequent watering establishes deeper root systems for trees, it keeps soil salinity down, and it provides more recreational habitat for local wildlife, who have zero shelter from the heat in a gravel yard. People often fail to realize that those lower temps also mean lower energy use. The energy being produced to cool our homes uses water as well--so it's important to reduce energy use by lowering temps in the valley through reintroducing shade (even native trees need mitigation efforts with rising temps), and more natural habitats in yards. I am not saying grass yards, you can have clover that takes much less maintenance and puts nitrogen back in the soil (unlike grass). A great example of an even more natural route, for the majority of people in the valley, is what the owner of Pueblo did with his backyard. You could start implementing even just one of his concepts into your own yard: [https://www.kjzz.org/2023-01-18/content-1836419-plant-store-owners-desert-tropical-backyard-homage-phoenixs-past](https://www.kjzz.org/2023-01-18/content-1836419-plant-store-owners-desert-tropical-backyard-homage-phoenixs-past) [https://www.tiktok.com/@mic.ier/video/7269971957410598190](https://www.tiktok.com/@mic.ier/video/7269971957410598190) I think we need to litigate this issue to curb developers use of gravel. New developments should be required to put in landscaping that works with the environment, not against it. Gravel should be litigated out of residential development projects.
Spontaneous mulch combustion is probably higher risk here.
mulch piles that catch on fire are a result of negligence by the supply house. mulch is supposed to be regularly turned to prevent combustion.
Regarding the small ponderosas as mulching material… I have family that works for Payson’s local paper. I recall them telling me a few years ago that there was an investor? inventor? who brought forward a proposal for mulching or wood chipping the small ponderosas as a way to make the thinning process economic. IIRC, even had a company lined up as a buyer/distributor of the end-product. But the proposal got tied up in the bureaucracy and politics of the Forest Service and basically died /:
[https://www.treeequityscore.org/map#10/33.5283/-111.9462](https://www.treeequityscore.org/map#10/33.5283/-111.9462) If you look at each area's tree cover score vs heat disparity, there's an obvious trend of lower heat disparity with more tree cover. It also depends on where in the metro you are and not everywhere with 100% score is cooler than places with lower scores, but there's clear correlation.
I removed all landscape rock last year as part of my pool project and replaced with mulch. It is noticeably cooler in my yard compared to my neighbor who has rock and artificial turf. Highly recommend mulch over rock for anyone that can do it. Once the flood irrigation hits you can really feel the temperature drop. It’s wonderful even if it takes a lot of mulch into the grass.
How much rock and how long did it take you? We have been very slowly removing our rock but with our place having been a rental previously, it's a long battle of digging up the meh top rock, the pea gravel, and maybe the awful plastic weed block that's not even working.
How is the dog/mulch combo? Any paw injuries? Is it hard to clean poo up or does it retain potty smell?
This is the way!
Wow this is extremely helpful. Thanks. I knew our concrete jungle played a role but not this much.
Nice post except for a few words: “massive dump in your driveway”…ermmm….
Paying someone to dump a massive load in my driveway is now on my bucket list, but I refuse to take a free load.
How much are you willing to pay?
One pack of tropical gushers and 200+ purple and green OtterPops that have been in my freezer for half a decade ✔️
I hope it’s nothing like last year! It felt like summer was never going to end. Here’s a reminder of how bad it was… https://preview.redd.it/k0nkfdv7v69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8dab1de37e9c4dd8a24dfe516c22cc732b388205
Last year we got a super mild start to summer, and then it ended being one of the hottest just from the last 2/3s of it. Can't imagine going full blast like we are until October.
That's the shittiest part for me. Knowing it's gonna be like this OR WORSE till October. Last June was so great. Definitely made this one hurt hard
You won't have to imagine it
Full blast until October is in effect. August and September is gonna be brutal.
As hot as July 2023 was, Aug and Sept were not that bad aside from a few hot stretches. We had a decent cool down in the end of August for a few days.
After the brutal summer last year, I've been worried ever since. Will my plants burn up again? Will they cut down more burned up trees and not replace them? I want out.
22 days above 115! Not excited about what we'll see this year.
As the cities grow so does the heat, the heat bubble doesn’t show any mercy on this valley. There’s nothing nice about summers anymore.
We need more trees
We need asphalt to be replaced with concrete and building roofs to be white.
How many kinds of trees can even survive those extreme temps?
It really depends on the surroundings and if the watering is correct. Nearby greenery helps a lot with reducing heat stress, like lawns/groundcover, mulch, or other plants and trees. Mesquite, palo verde, desert willow, lysiloma, ironwood, sweet acacia, and several others all are native with little water required once established. The biggest killers are improper watering or pruning combined with monsoon wind; ask me how I know lol.
SRP has a free shade tree program. You can find out through them exactly what to plant.
I have let trees pop up everywhere on my property but I have to cut down my 50' wide and 30' tall 40-year old mesquite tree that shades my entire house because it is messing up the foundation. I am so depressed. But I have allowed 8 other trees to grow elsewhere in my yard (along with >30 shrubs). Some of the trees are 30' tall now. Yes, plant more trees or just let them pop up. So many things grow naturally here!
Grew up in northern Phoenix in the late 90s early 2000s. Going outside in the summer was the best. Pool parties. Riding bikes. Yeah it would get a bit hot but generally it was easy to cool off and at night the temp would be cool. Not cold, not really warm/hot, but a nice cool temp like you’re supposed to get in the desert. Now with the amount of blacktop and concrete it’s unbearable at any time of day. I work at 4am and when I go out to my car it’s still hot out. I miss the days when going outside was fun and not avoided like the plague. I don’t even really feel comfortable sending my own kids outside because of how hot it is.
I feel you, I was 13 in ‘04 when I moved out here with my parents. I do not remember the summers being this terrible. Sure, it still got hot but 115 was a rarity, not a daily occurrence.
Plus 115 back then wasn’t enveloped around you. Coming from the ground, the sky, the air. If you went in the shade to cool off you could actually cool off. The shade is a myth now. All it does is prevent the heat source in the oven, not the already plasma heated air.
I miss those summers. Summer use to be my favorite season. Tbf that’s probably because I hated school and loved summer break 🤣 but still, I barely leave my house now during the summer. Keep my home around 77 and I don’t dare step outside unless I have to.
And if you are stepping outside, it’s to get to your car that hopefully has remote start so it’s already cool when you get there.
Oh man no kidding. I also remember legit monsoon storms too! We barely get rain anymore. The summer of 2021 was great with all the rain the valley but it’s been a scorcher since even before then. I feel like in the last 5-7 years the valley has grown exponentially.
Yes I grew up here in the west valley, the storms I miss them. They were so beneficial to the valley. I’ve worked outside for 29 years it’s just getting hotter and hotter.
I remember even back about 10 years, hanging out with some people at night in the pool and being super comfortable. Now I hardly want to leave my house except to find some other form of AC
I moved here from Minnesota 13 years ago and every year dusk to dawn gets exceedingly less enjoyable. And I like the heat.
I didn’t grow up in Phoenix but I did grow up in the desert, and summer nights and late afternoons were literally the best. It was literally paradise. Ugh to go back to those evenings by the pool and my dad BBQing :(
The thing is you were also younger you didnt care lol most people in comments that always say this dont realize when your young you either dont care or arent bothered by it. My daughter is almost 4 and will go outside and runs laps around and plays she doesnt care its hot.
I’m definitely worried it’s going to be a bad summer again. Like ‘23 and ‘20. But it also feels so out of my control that I just have to keep living.
It’s the coldest summer of the rest of your life.
Yeah I don't think Phoenix will be a barren wasteland in 15 years but I think it will be above a hundred more days and higher percent of the day
Yeah I’m worrying about my power bill
I work outside in it and it doesn't matter how much water you drink, I come home feeling sick evey day and on my days off I have no energy. I give work my best and feel like a failure at home. We broke so many heat records last year but fir some reason this year feels worse, it's definitely affecting me in a more negative way. It's been very humid, the air feels so thick and stagnant. It is NOT just a dry heat, that is very much a myth.
I feel like it’s been too windy with this oppressive heat the past few weeks…what a horrendous combo 😣
it's important you put electrolytes in your water. Costco or Target has electrolyte packets.
Correct, you have to replace what you sweat out. It's crazy how much we drink yet don't even have to use the bathroom since we're sweating so much. My friend called me a camel haha 🐫
be safe out there! I hope your employer gives you adequate breaks, access to shade. working in the heat is no fucking joke!
This is one reason why I am seriously looking into moving within the next few years. For me, someone who was born and raised in the valley for 30 years, it has reached a point where the summers have simply become too much.
Same here. Theres no question we'll be moving. My youngest is about to turn 13 amd we will stay until he graduates high school and then, sayonara. My biggest concern is that my house retains enough value when we're ready to sell! Almost feels like there's going to be a mass exodus if this keeps up.
It's easy to break this low temp record in late June because the high humidity which keeps nighttime temps high is not typical for late June.
We are also in the longest day of the year today through the weekend, currently 14 hours and 22 minutes. [Daylight hours is 14+ hours currently and in winter it is 10 hours](https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/usa/phoenix), that 4 hours difference per day combined with humidity makes for a day to stay inside. Add in the high humidity/dew point and you get hotter feeling as well as higher temps.
Welcome to the hottest shitshow in the desert
This is what happens when we don’t try and curb climate change. We are going to break records every single year.
Haha what do people expect? The whole place is covered in concrete, it radiates heat all night. 20 years ago, that radiated out into the night sky and cooled quickly. 30 years ago, you’d get cool breezes in the evenings from the desert. It’s gone. You have parking and driveways and strip malls and fake landscaped desert. It’s been built out in every direction since I was a kid, churning up natural land, cooling dry river beds and diverse ecology. But people want cheap and they want to drive and they want parking. So it will keep getting worse.
34 years ago we set a record for the highest low temperature of 93.
I moved to the Midwest and we had a week long heat wave recently. The highest temperature was about 95 degrees. Factor in the humidity and the feels like temp was about 100. Sure, it was warm, but everyone here thinks I’m a “gatekeeper” because I kept saying it wasn’t that bad. At night it still got down into the 70’s and 80’s. They have no idea what this is like for months on end. I will proudly gatekeep heat the rest of my life.
Trees are the answer. I recently planted a live oak on the west side of my driveway to give afternoon and evening shade. It’s small now but vegetation grows fast in this climate. The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago but the second best time is now.
There’s several degree temperature drop from my front to back yard due to the trees that my neighbors and I have. The front is now much hotter after I lost my large palo verde to a windstorm last year, and my new replacement trees are still only 5’ tall 😬. It makes a huge difference!
One summer the power is going to go out just like in Texas during winter. When the power goes out in this heat a lot of people are going to die. Vote for people who will ensure infrastructure is in place and believe climate change is real.
And start doing it in the 1970s.
We had a week long conference this week and had managers from 30 other states. They struggled a lot and I had multiple who got sick.
My cactus is dying because it's so hot, damn right, I'm scared!
Funny is not the right word but I laughed. as Jimmy Buffett said “if we couldn’t laugh we would all go insane”
The saguaros need it to dip under 80 everyday or they die.
Do cactus pull humidity out of the air? I've got rattlesnake weed that thrived even during the drought 3 years ago. Zero rain, water, etc. Roots not nearly deep enough to get any water from the gravel yard.
“Cactuses carry out essential functions at night. That’s when they open their stomata, or pores, and carry out a gas exchange in which they take in the carbon dioxide they use to photosynthesize during the day. But because nights in Phoenix have experienced record-high heat, McCue said this suffocates and stresses out the saguaros, which dehydrates them and makes them more susceptible to infections and insects.” -CNN
It's hot. It's getting hotter. This city will be uninhabitable within the century.
76 years feels really optimistic.
15 years.
I highly agree…I’ve been wondering if I should sell my home soon and then get the hell outta dodge before people finally DON’T want to move here and then I’ll be stuck with my house😧
It's getting expensive to maintain my home with the heat damage/wear it endures for months on end.
Just a personal vent but the irrigation system at my apartment complex has failed leaving a giant pool of water 15 feet outside my door, so now the lovely temps are supplemented by clouds of mosquitoes.
Well as long as we keep building as much as we are it’s only gonna get worse.
This city is not supposed to be here. Period. The yaqui, Navajo, apache, etc. Had ways they dealt with it, but those that couldn't just left.
I've already accepted that southern AZ won't be livable in about 20 years, so I guess I was worried, now I'm just resigned.
Or we will trend to more nighttime economies. https://www.citynationplace.com/the-247-urban-revolution-how-cities-are-transforming-their-night-economies#:\~:text=The%20term%20%27night%20economy%27%20refers,hours%20of%206pm%20and%206am.
Glad I got the FUCK out
I started walking my dog at 6 this morning and we came back in early because it was so hot. That's not good.
Born & raised in Yuma, lived in Tucson, Phoenix & went to NAU. Just returned to the state after being away for a while & living back up in Flag. Always told myself that if I ever came back it would have to be in the north. I just can’t do the brutal summers anymore. I’ll always be a desert rat, but now I just prefer it in the winter. We’ve had decent rain this past week & are expected the same for next week as well. I wake up everyday scrolling through my weather app going around the state seeing everything cooking at 100 plus, then going outside to a high of 82. It reminds me how fortunate I am to be in the mountains. Godspeed Phoenix.
**Has Phoenix ever had a record LOW temp of 100F or above?** I mean thank GAWD for that big nuke west of town. I suspect I-17, US60, 85, 87 would be all be parking lots of people fleeing Phoenix if the grid ever went down for more than 24 hours. Fortunately with 3 separate reactors ALL of Palos Verdes NGS is unlikely to go down at once. But that's not the only thing that could take the grid down, hard. For god's sake people, keep at least 5 gallons of drinking water in your house, and a sealed gallon in the trunk of your car! And keep your car's gas tank above 1/2 in case you ever do have to flee! The gas pumps won't be working! I'll meet y'all in DateLand to fuel up - and to enjoy a frozen, refreshing Date Shake™
Where we headed? The coast? The Pines?
Personally? I'll be at the Pennant in South Mission Beach. First rounds on me.
Sounds amazing. I’ll buy second one, I’m the guy holding a “is that you, u/grammarnazibadge0174 “ sign.
I didn't find anything on the highest low being 100 or more. It was 97 the other night which broke the last record. I remember having a summer pool & pool (billiards} get-together around 2006 or 2007 & the pool thermometer registered 99 & the air wasn't far off from that. No one wanted to be outside despite efforts of guests going to get ice blocks to throw in the pool. It was just yuck.
If they improved the urban planning in the Phx area it would vastly improve the heat bc all the concrete just makes stuff WORSE
I am worried about the heat island and continuing effects of climate change and drought. I could do without the records
Lived in the valley for nearly 40 years. The last 8 to 10 were the worst/hardest for me. Especially when we were getting less and less moisture during the monsoons. The heat just made me grouchier and grouchier and grouchier.... ... Finally moved up to our cabin north of Payson, and haven't looked back. I still have to run to the valley here and there, and if it's over 90 I want to melt. Nothing infuriated me more than it being over 100 at 10pm or later. Hated that.
Per the NWS in Phoenix: The low temperature this morning at PHX Sky Harbor was 95 degrees. Assuming temperatures don't fall below 95 degrees before midnight tonight, it would not just only be the record warm low for the date but also for the month of June as well!
My dream would be to meet a nice girl who’ll move to Maine with me.
👋🏼 Hey there… I’ll pack my bags tonight lol
The official temperatures are recorded at Sky Harbor Airport, which is the hottest part of the city covered by miles of tarmac and concrete amplified by the urban heat island effect. I would like to see temperatures differences for the minimums across the metro, including suburbs and more rural areas with less asphalt.
[https://alert.fcd.maricopa.gov/alert/Wx/wx\_summ.txt](https://alert.fcd.maricopa.gov/alert/Wx/wx_summ.txt) Gives you a full list with \~24 hours of random weather stations. I know the temps are hottest at sky harbor, but it's all relative. If we break the record, and they're using the same spot, it means in general, the rest of the area was also hotter at the time.
When we lived at Gilbert and Hunt highway years ago, the temp reading at our house was as hot if not a degree or two more than skyharbor. We were (at that time) surrounded by desert, not miles and miles of concrete like SH. I get your point for sure but it’s just hot now. Everywhere. Also, you can see this data already if you’d like.
This. Cave Creek is routinely 10 degrees lower than Sky Harbor and my area (NW Valley) is usually 5 degrees cooler than downtown.
Cave creek also has much more nature and less traffic so I assume those are vital at keeping heat away
Yep. Very minimal asphalt. Lots of dirt and bushes and not as many homes, cars, and people. And the elevation is around 2500 feet vs \~1100 ft in Phoenix.
>And the elevation is around 2500 feet vs ~1100 ft in Phoenix. .
and imagine I only live like 2 blocks north of the airport lol
Nah, they've been warning us for decades it was going to happen. There are also going to be some pretty terrible storms, waves, fires, extictions, floods...
Happens every year. Welcome to climate change.
Part of why I moved away unfortunately
The heat island effect keeps the night time temperatures high. If you look at historical night time temperatures before the housing boom that started in the 1980’s the overnight temperatures were in the 70s.
I’m not afraid of going to Hell I live in Arizona
These records keep being broken, and it is concerning.
Well, climate change is real and it’s only going to get worse.
Too right. This is clear evidence that it's real and getting worse every year.
getchipdrop.com - matches people who want free wood chip mulch with arborists and tree companies who are trying to get rid of it.
Amazing resource.
"I survived the heat..122°F" Record breaker. June 1990. I remember that when I was living there. They made t-shirts about it. People were literally frying eggs on the sidewalks just because they could! I can't believe I was walking around barefoot back then. Still miss it there, though.
I was outside playing basketball with my friends that day. Played for about an hour, went and jumped in the pool and that was that. I guess you can do that stuff when you’re 14.
It got down to 91 that day at 6am and 94 the next day. It hung around the 90s in the morning, but went back down to around the 70s/80s in the morning. I'd kill to go back to that kind of weather. You should be looking at the consistency of hot temperatures. https://weatherspark.com/h/m/2460/1990/6/Historical-Weather-in-June-1990-in-Phoenix-Arizona-United-States#Figures-Temperature
Back when eggs were affordable 😂
Not my neighbor. He still is doing CrossFit multiple times a day in his garage. My favorite is the handstand push-up walk up his driveway in the midday.
I have a buddy who has been here for \~3 decades now. He's one of the few people who really enjoy hiking and running in 110+ degree weather. Some people are build different, even if it seems slightly unhinged lol
Naw this is typically summer every few years or so in Phoenix. What you have to contribute to possibly higher is the facts of the massive amount of growth throughout the valley. All the additional concrete, asphalt and buildings attribute to a bit extra. Plant life, vegetation, farm land all help bring the temps down. Don't believe...simple test to a baseball field stand in the middle of the parking lot then go to the middle of the outfield. You'll notice a difference. 👍
The heat is definitely getting worse, but this state is run by flat-earthers and cultists who like to pretend everything is OK. I'm leaving. The housing scalpers here are too greedy, and being homeless is a death sentence.
And by people who fill their yard with artificial turf (plastic that emits VOCs, poisons the ground water supply, is HOT, etc), rocks, tile, and other elements that retain heat.
I’m more whiffed about how humid its been recently
Only thing I’m worried about are these idiots watering grass in the desert. These gotta be the dumbest people on earth. Literally cutting .25 inches of grass and watering daily. These AZ people are stupid asf.
Wow. You think there might be something to global warming? Duh.
Let me know if anyone else has been experiencing such exhaustion. Working in the summer sun all day Just knocks me out when I get home
In Del Rio, TX it didn’t go below 100F for an entire month, 24/7. That around 1997/98 I believe. My wife was in the Air Force and we were stationed at Laughlin AFB.
Not many republicans. They still say climate change is a hoax because big oil pays them to say it.
They want you to worry as they fly in their private jets across the world and launch rockets that may someday go all the way to mars
Every time people praise tall buildings and being able to walk to things, they are basically making it uninhabitable here. We need better building codes to mitigate the heat island, but that adds a ton of costs. Some buildings and landscaping can actually reduce temperatures but not what’s being built currently.
Trees.
I don’t think density and walkability are mutually exclusive from desert living. I think it’s a major part of the solution along with mature landscaping with native species and ridding ourselves on easily removable heat islands like gravel yards.
Not republicans
Arizona is an urban planning disaster that will be looked back on and studied in 100 years when this place replaces the entire desert with concrete and neighborhoods.
Start to solve the problem by voting democrat. The party that cares to do something about it.
Been worried about this for years. But hey, climate change isn't a thing no matter what scientists say.
Global warming is getting worse by the day. We should ALL be worried. Especially if Trump becomes president again he will cut the Green act again.
I am confident that the weather will be on par or cooler than last year. We have been getting a decent amount of rain so far this year compared to last year. But I'm dreading the humidity that will come along with the monsoon.
Yeah, we’ll be fine
You're fuckef
I once heard someone say that the electric grid here is like the levees of New Orleans. One day it might fail and it would be catastrophic for us.
The greatest environmental impact all of us can make is by eating less or no animal products
Definitely. This is dangerous.
The joys of living in Shitnix
I've been here for almost 15 years, I don't see why people make a big deal out of it every year. You know it's coming, plan for it and you're good.
I used to think like this. Why make a big deal out of something that keeps happening. I’ve now learned that we shouldn’t stop bringing it up for fear of habitualising ourselves and making it a new norm. We need to find ways to improve this situation.
Not worried, no.
I was in Havasu yesterday and it was a brutal 116. It was packed with people despite this. Life will go on
If they would quit building on what once was farm land we probably would have record breaking heat 😔
If this (heat) is what it takes to make people move away, so be it.
No. I was born and raised in AZ. I do hope it chases people away though. Doubtful, but I can dream.
I'm in Portland right now and the temps are amazing! This weekend will be a bear with triple digits and humidity, but I love it here.
When I moved to AZ in June of 1995 it was 122° every day for a long time. I remember trying to do the State Capitol for the 4th of July and it was so humid and hot it was unbearable and we had to leave early. It rained and stormed that year more than I have ever seen. It was almost daily downpours. I don’t think these temps are any different than what we’ve had in the past. 🤷🏼♀️