Storms in recent days have brought temperatures down a notch, but no matter how the month is sliced this is still one of the hottest Julys on record.
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Storms in recent days have brought temperatures down a notch, but no matter how the month is sliced this is still one of the hottest Julys on record.
The National Weather Service, measuring by daily highs and averages, said the stretch of July 10-20 was the warmest in the Valley's climatological history, which dates back to the 1880s.
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The average maximum temperature during those 10 days was 112.7 degrees; second place is 112.1 degrees, set in 2005. Also ranking first was the average temperature of 101.2; tied for runner-up are the 100.5s reached in 2003 and 2006.
However, the average low during the 10th through the 20th was 89.6 degrees, good for third.
The Weather Service said it was notable that the high temperatures ranked above the lows. In recent years, the Phoenix area's overnight minimums have been on the rise due to the urban heat island - the effect created by asphalt, concrete and other man-made structures retaining the day's heat well into the next morning.
And this heat wave overlapped the month's first two weeks, which was among the top 10 hottest. Also, July 8-14 had the warmest average temperature (100.2 degrees) on record.
Is there any relief on the horizon? Not really.
The Weather Service's forecast calls for the chance of afternoon/evening storms through the rest of the work week, and the resulting clouds may keep down temperatures. Tuesday's high peaked at 103, below average for this time of year; Wednesday's maximum was expected to top out at 108, which is close to normal.
But beginning this weekend, a shift in the wind will bring drier air to the region - and that will boost the heat.
Highs on Sunday and Monday in the Valley may reach 111 degrees, the Weather Service said. In fact, meteorologists said there might be another round of temperatures approaching or even reaching the criteria for an excessive heat warning.
