Annual Temperature Changes in Phoenix

July 27, 2012

It seems like today you hear everyone talking about global warming “normal” temperatures are changing with each passing year. Temperatures in Phoenix, Arizona typically start to slightly increase in April and continue through until September. The hottest month ever recorded in Phoenix was in the month of June at a record 122 degrees. December is the coldest month in Phoenix when temperatures can drop as low as 26 degrees. The lowest temperature for Phoenix on record was set in January 1963 when it was a frigid 12 degrees Fahrenheit.

The World Meteorological Organization studies and charts temperatures changes to them regularly. It is expected that the overall climate with gradually shift in the next 30 years. In Phoenix this shift is only supposed to be a 5.4 – 9 degree change. Since this change is supposed to occur over such a long span of time it is hard to gauge the change in temperatures from year to year. Sometimes the change may only be a fraction of a degree and not really noticeable at all. Also, it takes several years of collected data to determine what is a pattern of change and what is just a fluke. If the average temperature in Phoenix in June 2012 was 101 degrees while it was only 100 degrees in June of 2011 that doesn’t necessarily mean the climate has shifted. This is why the World Meteorological Organization collects and studies temperatures and weather patterns, so they are able to predict when they think there will be changes. By their calculations in the year 2040 the average temperature in Phoenix in July could be as hot as 111 degrees.

One thing can defiantly be said about the heat we get in Phoenix, it’s hot! Do everything you can to protect yourself from these elements. Make sure to have a cool house for your pets, and elders. Make sure to have your air conditioning unit serviced at least once a year to ensure you never have to experience a day or night with no air conditioning. You should also limit the amount of time you spend in the sun and where some type of sunscreen. We experience some of the hottest conditions in the nation make sure you take the proper precautions to protect yourself against the Phoenix heat!