Phoenix endures unprecedented 100 consecutive days of 100-degree heat

Phoenix hit 100 degrees for the 100th straight day, shattering the previous record of 76 days in 1993 and highlighting the intensifying heat in the Southwest.

Ian Livingston, Erin Patrick O'Connor, and Naema Ahmed report for The Washington Post.

In short:

• Phoenix set a new record of 100 consecutive days over 100 degrees, surpassing the previous streak by over three weeks.
• Vulnerable groups, including outdoor workers and the unhoused, are at greater risk, with heat-related deaths on the rise.
• The city's average summer temperature has risen 8-9 degrees since the late 1800s, driven by greenhouse gas emissions and urbanization.

Key quote:

“I’ve been homeless for 10 years. I can’t do another summer out here. No way.”

— Ron Wishon, Phoenix homeless resident

Why this matters:

This extreme heat threatens public health, especially for those without adequate shelter. As urbanization and climate change intensify, cities like Phoenix could face even hotter, more dangerous summers.

Related EHN coverage:

• Heat, air pollution and climate change … oh my! Was summer 2023 the new normal?
• Op-ed: We are undercounting heat-related deaths in the US
• Planting a million trees in the semi-arid desert to combat climate change