Phoenix reaches 110 degrees or hotter for 70 days this year
Metro area experiencing unusually hot start to fall — 14 consecutive days of breaking or tying daily high temp records
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — After a summer of breaking heat records, Phoenix continues to surpass longtime weather records in October.
Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport has tied or broken a daily temperature record every day over the last two weeks. Phoenix has also reached 110 degrees or hotter 70 times this year—far more than another year.
In the early 1900s, Phoenix averaged five days a year at 110 degrees or warmer, according to data from NOAA. In the 1950s, that number went up to seven days annually. By the 2010s, Phoenix averaged 27 days where the temperature reached at least 110 degrees.
However, the biggest change has happened over the last four years. Since 2021, Phoenix has averaged 42 days a year at 110 or hotter.
With climate change and the urban heat island effect, Arizona’s Family asked state climate officials if this is the new normal for Phoenix.
“Well, it’s not every year that’s going to look like this, but that trend is what we’re seeing, where we’re seeing those hotter days lasting longer, so we want folks to be aware of that and make sure they’re ready for it, keeping people around them safe,” said Erinanne Saffell, the Arizona State Climatologist.
Saffell said the Phoenix area now has a new potential for how late and how often these 110+ temps can happen.
Phoenix isn’t the only city in Arizona that broke its heat records in October, this heat wave is being felt in the High Country.
Flagstaff has seen high temperatures in the 80s for 13 straight days. By this time of the year, Flagstaff usually sees highs in the 60s.
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