A hellish and historic 31-day run of temperatures cracking 110 degrees in Phoenix appeared headed for a welcome end on Monday, as monsoon rains moved through the region from Mexico.
The relief wasn't all that great — the day's highs were forecast near 108 degrees, or about 42 Celsius — and the heat was expected to rise past 110 again later in the week. But residents and visitors were taking what they could get.
"It’s not going to last more than a couple of days, but I’m enjoying this break," said Christine Bertaux, 76, who was cooling off Monday at a downtown day center for older people who are homeless.
"It has been REALLY hot here!" said Jeffrey Sharpe, of Kenosha, Wisconsin, who was in town for a long weekend that on Monday included watching his son's poodles frolic in a grassy dog park. "But today it was about 85 degrees, more like Wisconsin."
High heat blasted much of the Southwest all through July, ranging from West Texas to eastern California. But Phoenix and its suburbs sweltered to new records, including three days where the high reached 119, and overnight lows stayed above 90 more than half the month. Concerts and other outdoor events were cancelled throughout the month because of the heat and busy parts of the city became ghost towns as people stayed indoors to avoid the heat.
Health officials have so far confirmed 25 heat-related deaths in Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous and home to Phoenix, in July, although that number seems certain to rise. Another 249 deaths are under investigation for links to heat.
Rudy Soliz, who manages the center where Bertaux was cooling off, said those who visit to get a meal and cool off out of the sun "have been having a very hard time this summer."
"Older people have a harder time with the heat, there are a lot of diabetics, people who take medicines," he said.
"The heat has been pretty bad this summer. We’ve made at least five 911 calls from here this July for people who got heat stroke," said Soliz. "They’ve found a couple of bodies around here this month but it’s not clear yet if they died from the heat."
Although there is no excessive warning for city, the National Weather Service said Phoenix residents should take precautions to stay cool and safe from the heat.
"Even though it’s going to be cooler than it has been, it’s still going to be warmer than normal. And the heat definitely can still affect a large portion of the population," said Matthew Hirsch, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. "So we’re still urging people to take the necessary precautions, such as remaining hydrated and limiting outdoor activity."
Phoenix’s previous record for days of 110 degrees or more was 18 straight, set in 1974, nearly two weeks shorter than the new record.
Hirsch said July 2023 was the city’s hottest month on record. The previous hottest month on record was August 2020.
And August could be even hotter than July, Hirsch said. He said there is a slightly higher chance of temperatures that are above normal in August and there's an equal chance for the region to get more or less rain than average.
R. Glenn Williamson, a businessman who was born in Canada but has lived in Phoenix for years, said he really noticed a temperature difference Monday morning as he washed his car in his driveway.
"Now we have to get rid of the humidity!" Williamson said. "But honestly, I’d rather have this heat than a Montreal winter."
