The Southwest Bakes With More Heat on the Way
“Looking at the current forecasts that we have, we’re forecasting temperatures at least 110 or above for at least the next seven to eight days and potentially longer,” Mr. Lojero said, adding that this streak could potentially break the 18-day record.
Isaac Smith, another meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Arizona, said that “we’re going to be looking at these very hot temperatures continuing through the next week.” The Weather Service, he added, expects highs to continue to remain above 110 degrees each day. “That’s pretty significant for us,” Mr. Smith said. “Even for Phoenix standards.”
“People certainly need to be taking precautions to protect themselves from the heat,” Mr. Smith added. “People need to keep in mind that heat is the No. 1 weather-related killer in the U.S.”
A report released by the Maricopa County Department of Public Health last month found that in 2022 there were 425 heat-associated deaths in the county, up 25 percent from the previous year. More than half of the heat-associated deaths occurred in the month of July, according to the report, and 107 of the deaths occurred on days with an excessive heat warning.
Still, throughout the region, people are finding ways to make do and assessing how much of the heat this year is extraordinary, and how much just feels like summer in the South and the Southwest.
Source: The New York Times
