Heat kills more people every year than other weather hazards. Heat waves can be more threatening the longer they linger, because stress accumulates over time when people can’t find adequate respite.
This could be a particularly hazardous week for Phoenix and other communities, as it could see its hottest seven days ever, according the National Weather Service . Last year, the city and its suburbs, located in Maricopa County Arizona, reported 425 heat-related deaths.
Sunday marked the 17th day in a row that Phoenix high temperatures hit or exceeded 110.
“We’re currently on pace to break the all-time consecutive streak of 110-degree days. Currently that record is 18 days,” said Gabriel Lojero, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Phoenix. “We’re forecasting temperatures to be near or above 115 this week, so it’s likely we’re going to break that record.”
Lojero said he worried about people who are unsheltered or don’t have easy access to air conditioning.
“There’s no relief. He said it was a cumulative problem. “Your body is not able to recuperate.”
Lojero said nothing in the forecast suggested Phoenix would get a break from the heat any time soon. High temperatures were expected to continue through next weekend, and there were no signs of thunderstorms, which are typical of the summer monsoon season in the desert Southwest.
” During the monsoon, we usually get more thunderstorm activity. More rain and cloud cover. That helps mitigate those extreme temperatures,” Lojero said. “Unfortunately, at least through this upcoming week, we are not seeing that.”
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