Phoenix breaks its record for most 110-degree days in a year

Phoenix, Ariz., has in the past few days twice broken its record for the most days in a year with temperatures of at least 110 degrees, according to data from the National Weather Service.

Sunday marked the 34^th day in 2020 at or above that temperature, beating a record from 2011.

“We did 33 this year, which was set yesterday, and today we’re probably going to have day 34, which is a record nobody really wants,” meteorologist Andrew Deemer had told the Arizona Republic.

Leave this right here for you. #azwx pic.twitter.com/FDGPlAy9VZ

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) August 9, 2020

#Phoenix jumped up to 111° but if you want a silver lining, we dropped down a few degrees shortly after. Expect temps ~110° for the next few hours. #azwx

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) August 9, 2020

The record lasted only a day, with Phoenix reaching 111 degrees on Monday, making 35 days.

“Most likely it’ll be over 40 days and counting by this time or earlier next week, and who knows when it’s going to end,” meteorologist Chris Breckenridge told the Republic.

Another meteorologist, Matthew Hirsch, told the newspaper that Tuesday, with a predicted high of below 110, was likely to be the coolest day this week. Hirsch said arid conditions were the primary driver of the heat.

“The main reason it’s been so hot is because it’s been so dry,” he said. “Normally when you get moisture it keeps things a little bit cooler but the pattern has been really persistent in such a way that we really haven’t been able to import much moisture into the area so we’ve had this persistent dryness and then heat comes along with that.”

An excessive heat watch for the area is in place Wednesday through Sunday and may yet be upgraded to a heat warning.