Who Remembers June 26, 1990? (Phoenix, Gilbert: home, live, cabin)

[FireStation46]

We were there on vacation. Never considered it gets hot there in June. We went because we had frequent flyer miles with USAir and thought, lets go someplace far that we would not likely revisit. I remember walking down the street with any shade to stay out of the heat.
Went to the Grand Canyon too.
Once and done

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by SluggoF16

I remember a lot of aircraft diverting from Phoenix to Tucson because the Boeing data only went to 50 degrees C (122 F) and it was only 118 in Tucson; Southwest paid Boeing extra to extend takeoff and landing data to 125F air temperature, and was able to continue operations. America West, Continental and United 737s were grounded.

Five years later I was stationed at Luke, and my squadron did not fly on July 28th, 1995. It was 125F there and Buckeye, and while the F-16 data was good-to-go, the crew on the ground was not. Surprisingly a couple squadrons continued operations. It had to suck on the flight line where high temps are magnified by jet exhaust and open spaces. Luke now has sun shades, as do most high-temperature places; it extends the life of the aircraft and avionics.

Wow, I didn't know about Southwest had to pay Boeing for that data. I was under the impression KPHX was closed for a few hours because airlines weren't too sure about their aircraft operating under such temperature extremes. At the time Sky Harbor had Terminals 2, and 3, Terminal 4 was in the last stages of its construction.

Along with the airlines you mentioned, Delta was also operating at Sky Harbor and I'm sure they had to halt operations temporarily on that day.

I also remember July 28th, 1995. [/color][/b]

[PhureeKeeper]

Yes, I remember. I was working in Ahwatukee and living in Chandler. It was about a 10 mile drive home.
I recall seeing several cars on the side of the road that had over heated. I remember thinking I just wanted to get the heck home and make sure the AC was on in my house and my dog was OK!

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

6/26/1990 might just be another date in history for a lot of people, but for us in Phoenix and around the rest of the state, it was when Phoenix's Sky Harbor Airport set the all time high temperature record of 122 degrees, which still stands to this day.

I definitely remember that dreadful day. Flights were grounded at Sky Harbor, buses broke down, and cars overheated. It was the result of an unusually powerful high pressure system over the SW, which brought the kind of temperatures that we usually see once in a lifetime ... although we have come close a few other times: 121 degrees on July 28th, 1995, 119 degrees on June 29th, 2013, and again on June 20th, 2017. Phoenix wasn't the only city experiencing all time record high temperatures on June 26th, 1990. Below is an article about L.A. setting a new record high on that date as well:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...628-story.html

Originally Posted by Magnum Mike

Other places in Arizona also recorded even hotter temperatures, I believe the Lake Havasu area was 128, and I think Flagstaff recorded a high temperature of 100 degrees, which would have been very hot for that area.

Flagstaff's high temp that day was officially 96 degrees, which set a record for June, but the all time record high for Flagstaff was 97 degrees on July 5th, 1973. Not sure what Havasu's high was that day, but I do recall a high of 128 over there a few years after that.

[WilmaWildcat]

High was 117 F (47 C) officially in Tucson. Still the all-time high. We were living in Sam Hughes, where we had an evaporative cooler 30 years ago. Should have been ideal for that weather; but of course, it failed. Hottest day ever, and we have no cooling. And nobody wants to get on the roof until the sun goes down.

But must say it gave me an indelible memory: improvising, I washed the laundry and hung it up all over the house -- wet. I swear it did help. But as a desert rat, it was not really an emergency for me.

[elcajones]

Well, June 26, 1990 was literally the day before I was born. I do remember it being 122 in 2017 though. Melted my blue recycling can.

[observer53]

I remember the asphalt on Washington Street slightly giving under my feet in the afternoon when I crossed it in front of my office to go get some iced tea.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by elcajones

Well, June 26, 1990 was literally the day before I was born. I do remember it being 122 in 2017 though. Melted my blue recycling can.

First of all, Happy birthday..

I'm not sure about the 122 you mentioned in 2017, but as mentioned before, the official records say that the high temp on July 28th, 1995 of 121 came close to the record, and I remember that day very well also. Sky Harbor Airport recorded a high of 119 on June 29th 2013 and June 20th 2017, but I wouldn't doubt that some other places around the valley had hotter temperatures.

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by observer53

I remember the asphalt on Washington Street slightly giving under my feet in the afternoon when I crossed it in front of my office to go get some iced tea.

I've heard others mention the same thing about asphalt literally melting. Wow!

[Magnum Mike]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I definitely remember that dreadful day. Flights were grounded at Sky Harbor, buses broke down, and cars overheated. It was the result of an unusually powerful high pressure system over the SW, which brought the kind of temperatures that we usually see once in a lifetime ... although we have come close a few other times: 121 degrees on July 28th, 1995, 119 degrees on June 29th, 2013, and again on June 20th, 2017. Phoenix wasn't the only city experiencing all time record high temperatures on June 26th, 1990. Below is an article about L.A. setting a new record high on that date as well:

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-...628-story.html

Flagstaff's high temp that day was officially 96 degrees, which set a record for June, but the all time record high for Flagstaff was 97 degrees on July 5th, 1973. Not sure what Havasu's high was that day, but I do recall a high of 128 over there a few years after that.

It's typically at least 5 degrees hotter than Phoenix in the area of Lake Havasu. I also recall hearing on the news about the high of 100 that was recorded in Flagstaff, I guess that depends on where the temperature was taken, the official temperature is typically taken from the airport of the city/municipality.

Thanks for posting that link from the LA Times website.