Just like it was back on June 22nd, the desert southwest region of the United States is expected to be roasting
once again with near record high temperatures. If those in North Texas, Oklahoma and elsewhere in the
southern Great Plains think they have it bad, they might want to see what it is like in Arizona today.
High temperatures this afternoon may reach the mid 110s in the Phoenix metropolitan area and western portions
of Arizona and with that, an Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for the next 24 hours.
The National Weather Service's Phoenix forecast office
posted this weather page due to the extreme heat,
even for Arizona standards. Here is what the National Weather Service has issued:
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT by the National Weather Service in Phoenix on August 1, 2008AN EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING is in effect until 8:00 PM Mountain Standard Time on Saturday night.The National Weather Service in Phoenix is continuing an Excessive Heat Warning for Maricopa County including
the greater Phoenix area and northwest and north central Pinal County. This Excessive Heat Warning is in effect
from today to 8:00 PM on Saturday.
Excessive heat with near record high temperatures are forecast today. It was a very warm night last night with the
minimum temperature near the all-time record high minimum temperature of 96° at Sky Harbor International Airport.
It is forecast to be at least a couple of degrees hotter today compared with yesterday.
Some forecast highs for today include 114° at Sky Harbor International Airport, 115° at Gila Bend and
113° at Coolidge. Saturday's highs are anticipated to be a few degrees lower, but still hot. Little in the way
of relief is anticipated during the overnight hours, with temperatures only bottoming out in the lower 90s
in the urban areas including Sky Harbor International Airport.
It would be wise to stay inside in an air-conditioned building today through Saturday. If you must work outdoors,
it would be wise to complete as much outdoor activity as possible in the early morning when the sun and heat
are less intense.
During periods of excessive heat, individuals can suffer heat-related illness when the body can no longer cool itself.
If you plan to be outside for an extended period of time in the afternoon or early evening, stay in the shade
as much as possible and drink abundant amounts of water. Wear light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.
If you wear a wide-brimmed hat, your head and body will be much cooler. Stop outdoor activities,
drink lots of water or other non-alcoholic beverages and if possible, spend more time in air-conditioned or
well-ventilated places.Here is an update for you.
Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix recorded their second highest all-time
daily minimum temperature this morning as it only got down to 95°. Only one day in recorded history was it
higher and that was on July 15, 2003 when temperature bottomed out at 96°. This morning's low tied two
other days on record when it was 95° on August 12, 2003 and July 22, 2006. See
this page for more details.
Also, less than two hours ago was when
the temperature reached its high for today,
113° at 5:19 PM Mountain Standard Time, just 3° short of the daily record of 116° in 1972.
The extreme heat is expected to back off by Monday.
PLEASE NOTE:
Even though it is dinner hour in Phoenix, I'm keeping the daytime forecast data so that in this rare instance,
we can compare the actual high temperatures with what was forecast. Also, Falcon Field in Mesa, Arizona
did not issue their latest weather observations, so Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport is being used for Mesa
on the metropolitan area weather maps instead.
LATEST METROPOLITAN AREA AND REGIONAL MAP WIND SPEEDS AND GUSTS (at least 10 MPH sustained)
Goodyear, Arizona... west-southwest at 14 MPH
Blythe, California... west-southwest at 13 MPH, gusting to 18 MPH
Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Municipal Airport)... south-southwest at 12 MPH, gusting to 17 MPH
Chandler, Arizona... west-northwest at 12 MPH
LATEST HEAT INDEXSurprise, Arizona... 110°
Goodyear, Arizona... 109°
Glendale, Arizona (Luke Air Force Base)... 108°
Buckeye, Arizona... 106°
Gila Bend, Arizona... 106°
Gilbert, Arizona... 106°
Casa Grande, Arizona... 105°
Phoenix (Deer Valley Airport)... 104°Apache Junction, Arizona... 103°
Wickenburg, Arizona... 100°
LATEST HUMIDITY LEVELSFountain Hills, Arizona... 4%
Blythe, California... 8%
Bullhead City, Arizona... 8%
Buckeye, Arizona... 9%
Gila Bend, Arizona... 10%
Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Municipal Airport)... 10%
Tempe, Arizona... 10%
Chandler, Arizona... 11%
Glendale, Arizona (Luke Air Force Base)... 11%
Goodyear, Arizona... 11%
Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport)... 11%
Peoria, Arizona... 11%
Phoenix (Deer Valley Airport)... 11%Scottsdale, Arizona... 11%
Yuma, Arizona... 11%
Wickenburg, Arizona... 12%
Casa Grande, Arizona... 13%
Gilbert, Arizona... 13%
Surprise, Arizona... 14%
Apache Junction, Arizona... 15%
Tucson, Arizona... 17%
Flagstaff, Arizona... 24%
LATEST VISIBILITIESBlythe, California... 10 miles
Casa Grande, Arizona... 10 miles
Flagstaff, Arizona... 10 miles
Fountain Hills, Arizona... 10 miles
Glendale, Arizona (Luke Air Force Base)... 10 miles
Phoenix (Deer Valley Airport)... 10 milesScottsdale, Arizona... 10 miles
Surprise, Arizona... 10 miles
Tempe, Arizona... 10 miles
Tucson, Arizona... 10 miles
Wickenburg, Arizona... 10 miles
Yuma, Arizona... 10 miles
Gila Bend, Arizona... 20 miles
Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Municipal Airport)... 20 miles
Peoria, Arizona... 20 miles
Apache Junction, Arizona... 30 miles
Bullhead City, Arizona... 30 miles
Chandler, Arizona... 30 miles
Gilbert, Arizona... 30 miles
Mesa, Arizona (Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport)... 30 miles
Buckeye, Arizona... 40 miles
Goodyear, Arizona... 40 miles