In an aerial view, the downtown skyline is seen during a heat wave on July 15, 2023, in Phoenix, Arizona.
(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Phoenix is no stranger to hot summers, but even for a desert city that is accustomed to blazing temperatures, the extreme heat it’s facing now is next-level.
With record-breaking temperatures becoming the new normal, scientists say Phoenix and much of the Southwest are entering uncharted territory when it comes to heat, which could lead to serious consequences when it comes to health, infrastructure, and the environment.
“Places like Arizona are absolutely entering uncharted territory when it comes to heat,” said Dr. Zachary Labe, a climate scientist at Climate Central. “In recent summers, we’ve seen prolonged stretches of extreme temperatures that break not just daily records but monthly and even all-time records.”
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In the coming days, Phoenix is expected to break even more records. Their high temperature on Thursday could hit 117 degrees, which would tie an August all-time monthly record. And the record heat in and around Phoenix is expected to last through the end of the week.
Just last summer, Phoenix made headlines when it recorded 113 consecutive days of 100-degree temperatures or higher, the longest stretch ever observed. And in 2023, the city also experienced a record-setting 31 consecutive days over 110 degrees, a brutal stretch that strained power grids, overwhelmed cooling centers, and tested the limits of human endurance.
(Iowa Environmental Mesonet)
The Main Driver Behind These Extremes? Climate Change.
“Climate change is pushing baseline temperatures higher, making it more likely for heat waves to reach unprecedented levels,” Labe explained. Adding, “This includes overnight hours too, where temperatures aren’t cooling down like they did before either. What used to be rare is now becoming more common, and more dangerous.”
That lack of nighttime relief is especially concerning. Hot nights prevent the body from recovering after sweltering days and make heat-related illnesses more likely, especially among older adults, children, people with chronic illnesses, and outdoor workers.
Tucson, Arizona, is experiencing three times more extreme heat streaks compared to the 1970s.
How Heat Will Shape The Desert Southwest In The Future
As global temperatures rise, Labe says the Southwest should expect to see longer, hotter, and more frequent heat waves over the next several decades. “This has wide-reaching implications, from public health risks, especially for outdoor workers and vulnerable populations, to strains on water resources and infrastructure.”
Those ripple effects touch nearly every part of life in Arizona and the broader region. The agricultural industry could suffer. Roads and rails may buckle under extreme heat. Energy demand will surge as people try to stay cool, putting additional stress on the power grid, which is already being tested each summer.
Even tourism, a major economic driver in Arizona, may suffer as more days become dangerously hot for hiking, sightseeing, or simply being outdoors.
We have already seen some of the most visited national parks forced to close this season due to extreme heat. Earlier in the spring, Lake Mead was forced to close after one person died and more than 30 hikers had to be rescued when they fell ill from the heat.
Unfortunately, challenges and risks from the heat are only expected to intensify in many areas across the country.
“Extreme heat often interacts with and worsens other climate-related problems,” Labe said. Adding, “Longer heat waves can dry out soils, intensify drought conditions, and increase the risk of wildfires.”
In a region already known for water scarcity, those hotter conditions put extra stress on reservoirs, rivers, and underground aquifers. Crops may struggle, ecosystems may shift, and certain areas could become increasingly difficult to live in during the summer months.
Phoenix and the greater Southwest are at the frontline of climate change and heat, and what’s happening here may soon become more common in other parts of the U.S. as global temperatures rise.
“We’re seeing what happens when climate extremes collide with growing cities and aging infrastructure, Labe explains. “The choices we make now will shape how livable these places are in the decades to come.”
Jennifer Gray is a weather and climate writer for weather.com. She has been covering some of the world’s biggest weather and climate stories for the last two decades.