Another heat record for Phoenix: hottest July ever! (Mesa, Glendale: house, to live in)

[shiphead]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

How hot is it? July 2009 may be the hottest ever in Phoenix - Phoenix Arizona news, breaking news, local news, weather radar, traffic from ABC15 News | ABC15.com


And some people wonder why there are so many complaints about the heat?! This is why! The Phoenix summers are becoming generally less tolerable, mostly due to the "urban heat island effect". The low temperatures are consistently becoming hotter as a result, as noted by the article's reference to the average low temperature being 87.1 degrees for the month. There used to be a time when 87 degrees was the WARMEST minimum temperature reading during an entire summer.

Well we continue to build and skip to my loom, thinking everything is ok. No spaces between buildings, no giant parks, no forest'ish areas, no green roofs, no smart building design, nothing. We will continue to build even when it gets up to 130 ... 140. But people will start leaving by then.

[Ritchie_az]

It should be noted that the official weather for Phoenix is from Sky Harbor. I doubt there is a hotter place in the city than the airport. Between the pavement, jet exhaust, cars and a/c exhaust, it no doubt is a few degrees warmer than the subdivisions. Also, Sky Harbor is warmer now than it was 25 and 50 years ago.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by Robert A

At the peak, Seattle's temperature was 104 with 19% humidity - the daily average was 45%, which includes times of cooler temps. For comparison, we hit 104 and 20% yesterday around noon.

I looked up the weather and our, well my zip 85003 had a peak humidity level of 14% and a dew point below 45°. In Seattle their humidity fluctuates depending on water surface temperature, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, etc. Because of their geographic location and proximity to huge bodies of water in every direction, their fluctuation of water vapor levels is much greater than Phoenix'. My friends and family told me that at peak times it was hot and humid and dew points around and over 60°. The higher the dew point temp the worse the heat index and the moisture in the air. This makes hot weather in Seattle unbearable compared to Phoenix. On top of that, as discussed you and I (most likely) have air conditioning whereas this is not true of most of the population in Western Washington.

[fcorrales80]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

Well we continue to build and skip to my loom, thinking everything is ok. No spaces between buildings, no giant parks, no forest'ish areas, no green roofs, no smart building design, nothing. We will continue to build even when it gets up to 130 ... 140. But people will start leaving by then.

In order for that to happen, we'd have to build continuously to L.A. and Tuscon in the other direction which is impossible. Beyond that, we'd have to make every building of dark concrete and asphalt with NO vegetation, none. It would take hundreds of years for the temperatures to reach 130° and that would be with old technologies and old standards.

[Robert A]

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

I looked up the weather and our, well my zip 85003 had a peak humidity level of 14% and a dew point below 45°. In Seattle their humidity fluctuates depending on water surface temperature, wind speed and direction, cloud cover, etc. Because of their geographic location and proximity to huge bodies of water in every direction, their fluctuation of water vapor levels is much greater than Phoenix'. My friends and family told me that at peak times it was hot and humid and dew points around and over 60°. The higher the dew point temp the worse the heat index and the moisture in the air. This makes hot weather in Seattle unbearable compared to Phoenix. On top of that, as discussed you and I (most likely) have air conditioning whereas this is not true of most of the population in Western Washington.

NWS had 104, 20%, and 56° here - 103, 19%, and 54° in Seattle for the times I referenced (11:51a and 5:53p, respectively). I understand the effect dew point and humidity have on the perception of heat, I was just pointing out that while Seattle may hit 103 and 45%, they didn't hit them at the same time.

Their lack of AC is seriously a bummer. My friend told me she is baking in her apartment. The last time I was there, the high was only about 85 and I had trouble sleeping. I can only imagine what it feels like right now.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by w1ngzer0

Well we continue to build and skip to my loom, thinking everything is ok. No spaces between buildings, no giant parks, no forest'ish areas, no green roofs, no smart building design, nothing. We will continue to build even when it gets up to 130 ... 140. But people will start leaving by then.

Al Gore invented global warming.

The Sonoran Desert had nothing to do with it.

130 cuz of no "forestish" areas in Phoenix. LOL.

What the hell?

Green roofs?

Ya gotta be kidding me.....

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by Ritchie_az

Also, Sky Harbor is warmer now than it was 25 and 50 years ago.

Exactly my point. The data proves that the average temperatures have increased over the last quarter to half century. However, it's warmer all over the Valley now than 25 or 50 years ago. If you watch the 10 PM news when they're giving the temperature readings across the metro area, the temperatures are basically the same at Sky Harbor and downtown Phoenix as they are in places like Glendale, Tempe, Ahwatukee, etc. It is only suburban areas in the far flung fringes that are cooler ... and those areas will soon become hotter if this sprawl keeps occurring at a rapid pace.

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

We've had 15 days this summer with temps between 110°-114° and one day with a recorded temp of 115° at Sky Harbor.

Actually, two days with 115 degrees: July 12th and July 28th. Also, keep in mind that the record for the number of days at 110 degrees or higher is 30 (set two years ago). We still have the entire month of August where temps could easily climb to 110 and above, so the two year old record could be tied or broken again if this same hot, dry, monsoonless scenario continues.

Originally Posted by fcorrales80

June was considered one of the coldest on record because we came close to setting record low highs a few times and record low lows as well.

We never came close to setting any record low minimum temps during June. The lowest temperature for the entire month was 68 degrees on the 7th. On that day, the record low temp was 56 degrees. There are many days duirng the first half of June that have record lows in the 50s (even one day in June with a record low in the high 40s if you can believe it).

Also, I stated before that June was cooler than normal ... but not one of the coldest by any stretch. The coolest June on record in terms of average temperature was 79.0 in 1965. June of 2009 had an average temperature of 88.7 degrees, which according to the official data, actually ranked as the 34th warmest June on record. The only "cool" record that was set last month was the number of consecutive days that failed to make 100 degrees ... it tied for the third longest streak.

DAILY RECORDS...
NO RECORDS WERE SET.

...MONTHLY RANKS...
AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE...T27TH COOLEST
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE........ 34TH WARMEST
AVERAGE LOW TEMPERATURE.... 19TH WARMEST
PRECIPITATION..............T37TH WETTEST

...MISCELLANEOUS...
- THERE WERE 15 DAYS IN A ROW WHEN THE TEMPERATURE FAILED TO BREAK
100 DEGREES. THIS TIED AS THE THIRD LONGEST STREAK OF SUB-100
DEGREE DAYS IN JUNE ON RECORD /LONGEST 17 DAYS IN 1913/.
- THE AVERAGE HIGH TEMPERATURE FROM THE 6TH THROUGH THE 19TH WAS
95.3 DEGREES...MAKING IT THE COOLEST TWO WEEK STRETCH OF WEATHER
IN JUNE SINCE 1999.

http://www.weather.gov/climate/getclimate.php?wfo=psr

[acrylic]

If it makes you feel any better, this has been the coldest July on record in Duluth, MN. It's been a cooooooooold and bland summer in Minnesota this year. At least I'll be moving to Phoenix next summer.

Not saying I'll enjoy 110+ degree temps, but at least I'll know what to expect each season.

[YAZ]

Originally Posted by acrylic

If it makes you feel any better, this has been the coldest July on record in Duluth, MN. It's been a cooooooooold and bland summer in Minnesota this year. At least I'll be moving to Phoenix next summer.

Not saying I'll enjoy 110+ degree temps, but at least I'll know what to expect each season.

Best walleye and pike fishin' in the world though. Sell your snowmobile before you come out here.

No need to pack that ice fishin' stuff either.

Wish that I'd brought a tip up or two to hang on the wall.

Good conversation piece if anything.

[Ritchie_az]

"Exactly my point. The data proves that the average temperatures have increased over the last quarter to half century."

But only at the data collection site. The temps at the airport have risen because 1) it used to be outside of town and surrounded on three sides by farm fields, 2) have a lot less pavement, 3) a lot less aircraft and, at one point, zero jet aircraft, 4) fewer buildings. If you compare airport data at Buckeye Muni airport now and 50 years from now, you'll see the temps rise, but only because the increased infrastructure and airplanes and types of airplanes.
If one were to collect their data downtown, how much would the data fluctuate over time? If one were to collect data in the suburbs, how much would the data fluctuate over time? If one collects data 20 miles outside of town, how much would the data fluctuate over time? If one goes 50 miles outside of town, how much would the data fluctuate over time? Etc.
Now, how much of the fluctuations are normal fluctuations in temperatures? El Nino just started up in the Pacific. La Nina won't be long following. How do those events effect the data? Sun spots and solar flairs (or lack thereof)?
There are so many questions, but few answers, and very litte data, certainly not enough to make any conclussions with.
Because just as much as pavement may increase temperatures locally (and I'm talking short distances), agriculture may decrease temperatures locally. So what can be said about that?