Hottest Night in Phoenix History

Tuesday temperature set record

July 16, 2003
Shaun McKinnon
The Arizona Republic

Phoenix broke another weather record Tuesday, and it's a nasty one: the hottest night ever at Sky Harbor International Airport.

After reaching 116 degrees Monday, a record for July 14, the mercury dropped only as far as 96 by early Tuesday. It got no cooler last night - 99 was as low as it got as the clock ticked to midnight - setting a record for highest daily minimum temperature.

The old record of 93 was set in 1989 and tied Monday.

If temperatures don't moderate, this July might go down as the hottest ever. The average high so far this month is more than 111 degrees, while the average low is nearly 87 degrees. Phoenix's highest average high for July is 109.8, and its highest average low is 85.

A powerful high-pressure system is causing the abnormally high temperatures.

Tuesday's high of 115, although not a record for July 15, was 11 degrees above average.

More than half a dozen Arizona locations posted record highs for July 14 on Monday, including Carefree at 111 degrees, Wickenburg at 115, Coolidge at 116, Buckeye at 117 and Parker at 121 sweltering degrees.

A heat advisory remains in effect today across the Valley, with temperatures expected to hit 113 degrees. By Thursday, high temperatures may drop toward 105 to 109 degrees.

The normal high temperature retreats from triple digits on Sept. 8, but the airport has recorded 100-degree days as late as Oct. 20.

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