Climate Change? Phoenix Sets New Record for 100 Degree Days

Phoenix Sets a New Heat Record

Phoenix is hot in the summer. So much so, that the words HOT and PHOENIX are practically synonymous.

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Phoenix heat is indisputable. The region is so notoriously hot, that heat-inspired stunts make the rounds of social media every year. Activities like trying to fry an egg on the sidewalk or baking cookies in your car, always become more popular as the mercury climbs.

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As of the third week in October this year, there have been 126 days where the high temps in Phoenix have reached at least 100 degrees.

The last time was on October 9th. The year's not over yet, so that number could continue to climb.

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How Hot Is It in Phoenix?

The latest data from the National Weather Service indicates Phoenix is on the verge of setting a new record. So far in 2023, Phoenix has reached or surpassed temperatures at 100 degrees Fahrenheit or higher on 126 different days.

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This summer now ranks as the sixth-highest number of triple-digit days in a single year, going back to 1895 when record-keeping began. The latest record was set just three years ago, in 2020. The city saw 145 days of 100-degree temps or higher.

Phoenix is Dangerously Hot

Even more remarkable is the number of days that Phoenix registered temperatures of 110 degrees or higher this year.

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110 degrees Fahrenheit is considered the threshold where temperatures go from hot to life-threatening. This range can be extremely dangerous for human health and well-being.

As recently as September 9th, Phoenix logged 54 days where temperatures reached 110 degrees or above. This breaks the previous record of 53 days that was set in 2020.

That Darned Ole' El Niño - And Climate Change

So what's causing the sudden spike in heat? Meteorologists point to a combination of factors. Natural variability in temperatures, and a summer full of persistent high-pressure systems that moved in and blocked cooler temperatures.

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The El Niño system has been wreaking havoc on global temperatures this summer. And of course, human-caused climate change.

Whatever the cause or causes, there's no denying this summer has been a hot one. We'll see what the fall and winter hold for our Arizona climate.

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