"In general, the hotter conditions that we experience certainly exacerbates the drought and can also lead to more severe fire seasons," Rogers said.Ĭontinuing into the summer, Rogers said it is too early to say if any other months will break records.Īccording to the weather service's official outlook, there is a 42% chance for "above normal" precipitation for July. This increased rainfall could help ease high temperatures, Rogers said. So far this year, 1,106 wildfires have ignited across the state, burning more than 453,000 acres as of June 25 - a 22% increase in land burned compared with the same period last year, the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management said. "It certainly can impact anybody, it is not one population over another but certainly those who are outdoors are more vulnerable," he said. Rogers said the heat is "by far Arizona's Number 1 killer," and it has a tremendous impact on public health across the state. Maricopa County Department of Public Health officials said the total of suspected heat-related deaths for this year so far is 75 deaths with at least 53 having occurred in the last three weeks. Over the past five years, state figures show, heat has been linked to more than 1,500 deaths in Arizona. The statewide toll far surpassed the previous record of 283 heat-related deaths reported in 2019. The deaths of 523 people were linked to heat during 2020, according to state health officials. This number of heat-related deaths in Arizona soared to a new high as people endured one of the hottest summers on record. Last year had a record 53 days of temperatures over 110 degrees, the weather service said. These high temperatures can have an impact on people, and extreme heat in the past has caused hundreds of heat-related deaths. "Structures such as buildings, roads, and other infrastructure absorb and re-emit the sun’s heat more than natural landscapes such as forests and water bodies," the EPA website states. "Urban areas, where these structures are highly concentrated and greenery is limited, become 'islands' of higher temperatures relative to outlying areas."
Rogers said the "urban heat island effect" has impacted temperatures not only in Phoenix but in other large cities across the world.Īccording to the Environmental Protections Agency, heat islands are found in urbanized areas which experience higher temperatures than other areas. These record-breaking temperatures come as a result of urbanization, climate and short-term weather patterns, according to a tweet by the National Weather Service Phoenix. The average high temperature in Phoenix ranked as third highest on record at 108.2 degrees. Last month also broke the record for warmest average low temperature for June being 82.5 degrees.
Previously, the record was set in 20 which both had an average temperature of 94.8 degrees. The average recorded temperature during the month of June was 95.3 degrees, said Jaret Rogers, meteorologist with the weather service in Phoenix.
June 2021 was the hottest June on record for Phoenix and, given the weather trends each year, could still get hotter, according to the National Weather Service.