Phoenix, Arizona, experienced its 100th consecutive hot week, with temperatures exceeding 100°F (37.7°C).
The hottest city in the US has broken its previous record of 76 consecutive days of temperatures above 100 degrees Fahrenheit, set in 1993. The relentless heat wave, which began on May 27 and reached its 100th day on Tuesday, is forecast to continue next week. A heat warning is in effect until Friday, with temperatures expected to reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit tomorrow.
This summer was the hottest in Phoenix since 1896, when records began. Current county data shows that at least 177 people have died from heat-related causes so far this year, with 436 cases under investigation. Last year, there were 645 confirmed heat-related deaths in Maricopa County after temperatures exceeded 110 degrees for 55 consecutive days.
“Summers in Phoenix are getting hotter, the heat is getting more intense and lasting longer,” said Shel Winkley, a meteorologist with the nonprofit Climate Central. “On average, Phoenix currently experiences extreme heat about 60 days (or) 65% of the summer.”
In addition to Arizona, millions of Americans in Nevada and California are also exposed to the scorching heat. The highest temperatures are expected to reach 49 degrees Celsius in Death Valley National Park.
“Temperatures will be as much as 8 degrees above normal in early September,” the National Weather Service’s Las Vegas office warned in an alert.
Homeless people, children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk for heat-related illnesses.
“Consecutive days of intense heat mean that people in Phoenix have no rest at night, especially those who do not have or cannot afford air conditioning, as well as those who work outdoors,” said Juan Declet-Barreto, climate vulnerability social scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists.
“I want the public to understand that this heat is no longer a rare event,” Declet-Barreto said. “If we don’t drastically reduce emissions, it will get worse every year. We need to decarbonize our energy, industrial, agricultural and transportation sectors. There is no way around this if we want cities like Phoenix to remain livable.”
