Temperature In Phoenix To Top 100 For Nine Days

Beginning tomorrow, the temperature will be over 100 degrees F in Phoenix for nine straight days, compared to the average of 86 degrees during this period. These 100-degree temperatures are not typical in May. That nine days in a row could stretch longer is unprecedented and a dangerous sign about the effects of climate change.

Last year, there were 113 straight days of 100-degree weather, but these began in early June.

The high temperature has several effects. First among these is loss of life. Last year, several hundred people died in Maricopa County, where Phoenix is located. The figure is likely uncounted, as some of these were attributed to heart disease, stroke, or respiratory conditions.

Homeless People

The immediate danger is to the homeless and those without air conditioning in their apartments or homes. The homeless count in Phoenix is about 10,000. There is no way to count the number of people without AC, but it must be well into the tens of thousands. The local government must attempt to move these people to public, air-conditioned locations.

Air conditioning use also strains the electrical grid, which, over time, usually means rising running prices. It can also cause rolling blackouts. The cost to rebuild the grid in a city as large as Phoenix could be hundreds of millions. And new sources, including wind and solar energy, would need to be brought online.

Economy Damaged

Extremely hot weather also affects the economy. This is particularly true of outdoor work, which is critical to some industries. Construction is the largest of these.

Phoenix won’t be able to handle this heat level at some point.