Heat — Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

2005-07-12 to 2005-07-21 · Greater Phoenix Area, Arizona

Event narrative

This was the third warmest July on record in Phoenix. The average monthly temperature was 97.3 degrees, just 4 tenths of a degree shy of the record warmest July which was set in 2003. The average maximum temperature for the month was 109.5 compared to a normal of 106.6 degrees. Several daily high temperature records were tied or broken, including 115 degrees on July 12, 114 degrees on July 13, and 116 degrees on July 17, the hottest day of the month.The average minimum temperature for July was 85.0 degrees, compared to a normal of 82.9. The daily low temperature records that were tied or broken included July 16, 17, 18, 19 and 21st. The low temperature on July 17 was 93, just 3 degrees shy of the hottest minimum ever in Phoenix. The onset of the wet season, usually around the 7th, was delayed until the 17th. Even after July 17, there was not much humidity, and the total rainfall for the month at Phoenix Sky Harbor airport was only .16 inches. Authorities have attributed 30 deaths to heat, nearly all victims were homeless.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5467997. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.