Record-breaking March heat wave in Phoenix
March 18
The National Weather Service says temperatures in Phoenix could reach 108 degrees by this weekend. These are record-breaking temperatures and an extreme heat warning is in effect.
An exceptionally strong ridge of high pressure is building against the West Coast and will center over Arizona by Wednesday. As this happens, the forecast highs climb to record-smashing level.
The earliest 100-degree day in Arizona ever recorded was on March 26, 1988. But we are looking to break that record this week by Wednesday. Extreme heat watches are in effect for much of the Southwest later this week with temperatures from Wednesday through Sunday equivalent to June’s normal temperatures.
Daily records are expected to be broken by as much as 10°F.
Tom Frieders, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss this atypical weather streak and what it means in terms of our climate.
In this segment:
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