PHOENIX — An overnight storm has prevented Phoenix from breaking its record for the lowest overnight temperatures, yet the city continues to grapple with extreme daytime heat.
The National Weather Service reported a dawn low of 79 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 Celsius) after nearly 1.77 inches (4.5 centimeters) of monsoon rain fell across the metropolitan area.
Saturday night’s low of 93 degrees (33.8 C) tied a record for the most overnight lows in the 90s, a mark set last year with 35 occurrences.
Meteorologists are forecasting that the 36th overnight low in the 90s will soon be registered.
The previous streak of consecutive days featuring temperatures at or below 90 degrees is 16 days, established in July 2023 during Phoenix’s hottest summer on record.
Daytime heat records for the city, however, are continuing to rise. With a forecast high of 106 degrees (41.1 C) for Sunday, Phoenix is on track to experience 84 consecutive days of temperatures reaching or exceeding 100 degrees (37.7 C).
The prior record was 76 consective days of triple-digit temperatures set in August 1993.
Meteorologist Isaac Smith indicated that there appears to be no relief from the oppressive heat in the coming days, with an excessive heat watch now in effect for the area.
“Expect temperatures to soar to 112 degrees Monday and 114 on Tuesday,” Smith stated.
Fellow meteorologist Gabriel Lojero warned that this extreme heat is particularly harmful because it inhibits the body from achieving adequate overnight cooling and recovery.
Lojero highlighted the urban heat island effect in downtown Phoenix, wherein materials like concrete, steel, and asphalt trap heat and prevent the city from cooling off at night.
In contrast, monsoon rainstorms have moderated temperatures in regions like Las Vegas, which saw a drop to 81 degrees (27.2 C) on Thursday, marking the coolest temperatures there since June 21.
This weekend, hotter weather is expected across New Mexico, with Albuquerque’s highs approaching the triple digits, and even higher temperatures anticipated in southern counties near the U.S.-Mexico border.
The severe heatwave gripping the Southwest is reflected in rising heat-related fatalities.
As of August 10, public health officials in Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, reported 96 confirmed heat-related deaths for 2024, with an additional 462 deaths currently under investigation for heat-related causes. The county, which has a population of approximately 4.5 million, experienced 645 heat-related deaths in 2023.
In Pima County, which includes Tucson, the Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed 99 heat-related fatalities as of early August, alongside four other small rural counties receiving forensic services from them.
In Clark County, Nevada, encompassing Las Vegas, there have been 123 heat-related deaths confirmed this year, as reported by the Office of the Coroner/Medical Examiner.
New Mexico state health officials reported over 760 visits to emergency clinics and hospitals due to heat-related ailments since April 1, which includes 29 visits in just the past week.
Moreover, data from the New Mexico Health Department indicates that there were 11 heat-related deaths in May, all occurring in Doña Ana County. Officials caution that this number likely underrepresents the actual heat death toll, as not all cases are reported to the Office of the Medical Investigator.
