Phoenix near record for 110 degree days. (house, subdivision, to live in)

[Bummer]

Originally Posted by topjimmy

Al Gore invented the Internet, you know.

LOL @ Topjimmy . . . even the PORN SITES?

[sheena]

Originally Posted by Bummer

Interesting statistics, BillyBaroo

I blame it all on George Dubya! ! ! ! !

Me too and hurricane Dean also

[sheena]

Originally Posted by topjimmy

Al Gore invented the Internet, you know.

I knew that Jimmy

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by DaveV

Aren't you busy listening to Rush Limbaugh..?

Hardly. What Im surprised is how you find the time to post here (on Gore's amazing invention--the internet) while watching An Inconvenient Truth. I guess it wouldnt be hard to find the time to post nowadays thanks to the wonderful invention of DVD players that let you pause the movie, post, then resume via "chapter selection".

[sheena]

Originally Posted by DaveV

Aren't you busy listening to Rush Limbaugh..?

Rush goes off at 1 If I remember correctly.

[Valley Native]

All right, children: back to the topic. This constant spree of days with 110 degrees or higher is living proof that Phoenix IS getting hotter. In the 1950s, the average number of 110+ degree days per year was six. In the '60s, it was 10. In the '70s, it was 17. In the '80s, it was 19. In the '90s it dropped to 13 ... but in the 2000s so far, the average number is 21.

I don't know if this can be attributed to the so called "global warming" ... but it's evidence that urban heat islands exist. We already have proof that low temperatures are much warmer than they were decades ago, and it's only logical to say that higher low temps tend to push up the afternoon high temps, especially when it's sunny (which it usually is here).

[GraniteStater]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

All right, children: back to the topic. This constant spree of days with 110 degrees or higher is living proof that Phoenix IS getting hotter. In the 1950s, the average number of 110+ degree days per year was six. In the '60s, it was 10. In the '70s, it was 17. In the '80s, it was 19. In the '90s it dropped to 13 ... but in the 2000s so far, the average number is 21.

I don't know if this can be attributed to the so called "global warming" ... but it's evidence that urban heat islands exist. We already have proof that low temperatures are much warmer than they were decades ago, and it's only logical to say that higher low temps tend to push up the afternoon high temps, especially when it's sunny (which it usually is here).

Urban heat islands expand even more when the urban sprawl consumes greater amounts of land. More urban sprawl means much more concrete, houses, and buildings. The natural desert environment heats up rapidly and cools off rapidly.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Plains10

Urban heat islands expand even more when the urban sprawl consumes greater amounts of land. More urban sprawl means much more concrete, houses, and buildings. The natural desert environment heats up rapidly and cools off rapidly.

Absolutely right. That's what I've been trying to get across to these sprawl lovers who keep opposing highrises here. Urban sprawl creates warmer low temperatures for the entire region ... and warmer lows tend to create hotter afternoon high temps. Going vertical isn't the solution to the urban heat island ... but it would move residents closer to the urban cores, and create less desert being torn up for more cookie cutter subdivisions.

You can't stop growth from happening, but vertical development is a good way to promote POSITIVE growth, and still preserve the desert lands on the outskirts. We don't need any more Anthems!

[BillyBaroo]

Originally Posted by Plains10

Urban heat islands expand even more when the urban sprawl consumes greater amounts of land. More urban sprawl means much more concrete, houses, and buildings. The natural desert environment heats up rapidly and cools off rapidly.

I'm very curious to find out if the urban heat island has an effect on thunderstorms in the summer. The heat helps generate the storms, but it seems like extreme heat somehow makes them collapse when they roll into the valley. Anybody notice there's more dust storms and less rain over the last ten years?

I lived in Phoenix from 1985 to 2000, then I moved to Tucson and I've lived here for the last seven years. Right away, I noticed a huge difference in the nighttime temperatures of the two cities. There's a lot more storms in the summer too. This year has been really wet. But I think that has more to do with being further south than anything else. Tucson does have a more natural desert environment though.

[bpreston]

My son is driving Phoenix to LA on I-10 when would be the best time of the day for him to drive this route and what is this route like since he has never driven it ?