Arizona’s residents are in for a much-needed cool-down

Phoenix, Arizona, is set to experience some much-needed relief from the blistering heatwave that has been plaguing the city. According to the National Weather Service (NWS), the city’s record of the most days at or above 110F (43.3C) this year is expected to come to an end. On Sunday, the NWS announced that temperatures will finally begin to retreat “closer to the seasonal normal” with highs expected to range between 102F (38.9C) and 104F (40C) between Monday and Friday.

Sunday’s scorching temperature of 112F (44.4C) broke the daily high record of 111F (43.9C) set in 1990. The NWS also warned of a 25% chance of a passing shower or storm on Tuesday, focused mainly over higher terrain. With the onset of cooler temperatures and rain chances returning, the threat of heat risk decreases from moderate to minor.

Earlier this summer, Phoenix grappled with a 31-day streak of temperatures at or above 110F as a blistering and historic heatwave swept across numerous states including Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, and California. The city’s Sky Harbor international airport reached 110F on Saturday, making it the 54th day this year to hit that temperature. This breaks the previous record of 53 days set in 2020.

According to the NWS, the average number of days at 110F or above was 21 from 1991 to 2020, making this year’s record-breaking number a significant departure from the norm. Chris Kuhlman of the NWS in Phoenix told the Associated Press, “I hate to say ‘Yes, this will be the last,’ but it’s more than likely that will be the case – this will be our last stretch of 110s this summer.”

The excessive heat warning issued by the NWS across south-central and south-west Arizona is set to expire at 8pm this evening. As the threat of heat risk decreases, residents can look forward to enjoying some much-needed relief from the blistering heat. Despite the challenges faced this summer, Arizona’s residents are in for a welcome cool-down, with highs expected to return to a more seasonal norm.