Phoenix’s streak of reaching at least 100 degrees hits 100 days

PHOENIX — This summer, Phoenix has set a new benchmark for extreme heat, with the temperature reaching at least 100 degrees for the 100th consecutive day on Tuesday.

The National Weather Service uses its station at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport for the city’s official readings. It hit 100 there around 11 a.m.

🌡️100 straight days with high at or above 100°F. Phoenix has just reached this mark today and the streak is expected to continue, with no end currently in sight. This is by far the longest streak on record. The previous record was 76 straight days in 1993. #azwx pic.twitter.com/ENtoUWuknv

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 3, 2024

The last day the thermometer at the airport didn’t reach 100 degrees was May 26, when the high was 99 degrees.

The current streak has obliterated the city’s previous record of 76 consecutive days at or above 100 degrees from 1993.

Gabriel Lojero, a meteorologist with the NWS, said there is no immediate relief to the string of hot temperatures in sight.

The heat wave is still going strong with new records around the corner

Phoenix’s record for days of at least 110 degrees in a year is expected to fall this week.

In 2023, the city saw a record 55 days with highs at or above 110.

Phoenix came with in one of that mark when it topped out at 110 on Friday. Broken down, that 2024 number is made up of 14 days in June, 25 in July, and 15 in August.

Furthermore, there’s an excessive heat warning set to go into effect from 11 a.m. Wednesday to 8 p.m. Friday.

An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for much of the region for the end of the work week as temperatures are forecasted to be around 10 degrees above normal. Remember to practice smart heat safety by staying hydrated and limiting your time outdoors! #azwx #cawx pic.twitter.com/2GXAIk5x9h

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) September 3, 2024

NWS meteorologists issue excessive heat warnings to alert the public about extremely dangerous heat conditions.

People who have to spend time outdoors during periods of excessive heat should stay hydrated, apply sunscreen to exposed skin, wear loose-fit clothing and take frequent breaks in the shade, according to experts.

Why are temperatures staying above 100 degrees in Valley?

Lojero said the fact that the monsoon season has been “much drier than normal” has contributed to this summer’s extreme heat.

“We haven’t had many days where we’ve had rainfall or much in the way of cloud cover, which would have helped temper the temperatures down a little bit,” he added.

While the lack of monsoon moisture wasn’t as bad as last year, it was still pretty dry, he added.

“Given that we did not have much in the way of thunderstorm activity, our high temperatures were able to really heat up the whole state,” Lojero said.

Phoenix saw hottest summer on record, NWS says

Phoenix recently broke the record for hottest “meteorological summer” (June-August) with an average temperature of 99 degrees. That rose past the previous zenith of 97 degrees set in 2023.

In fact, Phoenix saw its hottest June and second-hottest July since records were first kept in 1896.

Additionally, Phoenicians endured the city’s third-hottest August, which had an average of 98.7 degrees this year. That’s a miniscule drop from August 2023, which had an average temperature of 98.8 degrees. The hottest August in Phoenix’s recorded history was in 2020, with an average temperature of 99.1 degrees.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

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