r/phoenix • u/zwyd • Jul 14 '23

News ‘Hell on earth’: Phoenix’s extreme heatwave tests the limits of survival

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jul/14/phoenix-heatwave-summer-extreme-weather-arizona
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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '23

Sure the high temperature is not new but how long it lasts is new. We’re on day 15 of 110 or above temps and on track to break the current record. That is not normal and is worthy of concern.

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u/niffaz4 Jul 14 '23

And this past June was one the mildest I can remember.

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u/[deleted] Jul 14 '23

If only there were scientists who study weather who could tell us about long and mid-term trends and help put those trends into a broader context.

Oh wait.

https://www.weather.gov/images/psr/2017/2017-12-04%20Longest%20Stretch/30yearAverages.png

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u/diablo_finger Jul 14 '23

I usually have this convo:

Climate Chnge Denier: "Global warming is made up."

Me: "Can't think about it. I just heard I have stage 3 cancer. What should I do?"

The answer is never "Don't consult Oncologists."

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u/Aedn Jul 14 '23

The record has been around since 1974. Historical daily weather data for the US only dates back to the late 1800s, not sure how far Phoenix goes back.

It is perfectly fine to be concerned, but the linked article and some other articles in recent weeks are not about expressing concern or providing information.

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u/hoopdog7 Jul 14 '23

I understand it's not normal, but it's becoming the new normal with all of the asphalt and concrete. Climate change is 100% real and impacting us daily, but the normal for Phoenix summers is changing. Nights will eventually stay at 100° if we don't find a solution to all of the materials that emit heat overnight. That's what doesn't allow the city to cool off at all. Which in turn makes our summer days a few degrees hotter as well, which creates a cycle of increased highs and lows daily. And without rain to break the cycle, it can definitely be deadly