Latest news with #AliciaRyan
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Barely into spring, Phoenix flirts with first triple-digit heat day of 2025
PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix flirted with its first 100-degree day of the year on Tuesday, though it fell just short of that milestone. The metro area was expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) on Tuesday, but the forecasted high temperature was later revised to 98 degrees (36.6 Celsius). Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ended up recording 99 degrees (37.2 Celsius) around 2 p.m. Tuesday, breaking record set for this day in 2022 when it reached 96 degrees (35.5 Celsius). 'It's unseasonable, but it's not something people should be concerned about,' said Alicia Ryan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. The year 2024 marked another record-breaking summer of heat in Phoenix. A heat wave that stretched into October saw Phoenix set an annual record of 70 days with the highs reaching or passing 110 degrees (43.3 Celsius). Maricopa County public health officials say that 602 heat-related deaths were confirmed for 2024, with another eight deaths being investigated for possible heat causes, according to a preliminary report issued by the county, which has about 4.5 million residents. Officials say those numbers represent the first decrease in heat deaths since 2014. The metro area is expected to reach the low 90s (32 plus Celsius) on Wednesday and Thursday as it sees more cloud cover, followed a drop to the 80s (26 plus Celsius) over the weekend. 'I'm a little sad about it just because we know that, you know, our hottest months are coming up,' Camille Ridley said outside the Arizona statehouse on Tuesday. 'And after last year's extended summer season, it's a little melancholy. But I do know this shall pass, as we've got 80s coming in any day now.' High school students Jose Mejia and Eric Galvan both had an independent study days and decided to meet at a park in central Phoenix to go for a walk. Within 10 minutes they high-tailed it out of the 95-degree (35 Celsius) heat. 'We just tried to have fun outside,' Mejia said. 'It's pretty hot outside.' Galvan knew it would be sweltering but did not expect it to be so intense. 'A few days ago, it was like pretty normal temperatures,' Galvan said. 'It's kind of crazy. If you remember last year, it was 80 degrees by this month. It keeps increasing.'
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Phoenix reaches 99 degrees, breaking previous daily record from 2022
Phoenix is already setting heat records, and it's only March. The temperature reached 99 degrees at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport at 2:05 p.m. according to the National Weather Service, breaking the previous daily record from 2022. Meteorologist Alicia Ryan with the National Weather Service office in Phoenix said we were still sitting at 99, just after 3 p.m. Meteorologists were monitoring temperatures March 25 as if it hit 100 degrees, it would be the earliest 100-degree day on record. The current record for the earliest 100-degree day was set on March 26, 1988. The first 100-degree day could arrive ahead of schedule — the average first day, based on weather data between 1991 and 2020, is May 2. A day earlier, a high of 96 broke another daily record, which was 94 degrees, set March 24, 1990. The normal for this time of year is 81 degrees. A ridge of high pressure has entered the region, bringing the hottest temperatures of 2025 so far. High readings have pushed well into the 90s, more than 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. The National Weather Service three-month outlook predicts warmer and drier than normal conditions across much of the Southwest. A weakening La Niña phase is likely contributing to higher-than-normal spring temperatures. La Niña is a climatological event stemming from colder-than-normal temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean, usually causing warmer and drier conditions in Arizona and the Southwest. The heatwave should continue until March 27, before temperatures cool to the mid to lower 80s. The extended forecast will be closer to average for late March, with high temperatures usually around 80 degrees. Earliest on record: March 26, 1988 2024: April 21 2023: April 30 2022: May 7 2021: May 5 2020: April 26 2019: April 26 2018: April 10 2017: May 3 2016: May 4 2015: May 1 Source: National Weather Service Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and Email her with story tips at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix reaches 99 degrees: Previous daily record was in 2022
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Climate
- Associated Press
Barely into spring, Phoenix flirts with first triple-digit heat day of 2025
PHOENIX (AP) — Phoenix flirted with its first 100-degree day of the year on Tuesday, though it fell just short of that milestone. The metro area was expected to reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit (37.7 Celsius) on Tuesday, but the forecasted high temperature was later revised to 98 degrees (36.6 Celsius). Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport ended up recording 99 degrees (37.2 Celsius) around 2 p.m. Tuesday, breaking record set for this day in 2022 when it reached 96 degrees (35.5 Celsius). 'It's unseasonable, but it's not something people should be concerned about,' said Alicia Ryan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix. The year 2024 marked another record-breaking summer of heat in Phoenix. A heat wave that stretched into October saw Phoenix set an annual record of 70 days with the highs reaching or passing 110 degrees (43.3 Celsius). Maricopa County public health officials say that 602 heat-related deaths were confirmed for 2024, with another eight deaths being investigated for possible heat causes, according to a preliminary report issued by the county, which has about 4.5 million residents. Officials say those numbers represent the first decrease in heat deaths since 2014. The metro area is expected to reach the low 90s (32 plus Celsius) on Wednesday and Thursday as it sees more cloud cover, followed a drop to the 80s (26 plus Celsius) over the weekend. 'I'm a little sad about it just because we know that, you know, our hottest months are coming up,' Camille Ridley said outside the Arizona statehouse on Tuesday. 'And after last year's extended summer season, it's a little melancholy. But I do know this shall pass, as we've got 80s coming in any day now.' High school students Jose Mejia and Eric Galvan both had an independent study days and decided to meet at a park in central Phoenix to go for a walk. Within 10 minutes they high-tailed it out of the 95-degree (35 Celsius) heat. 'We just tried to have fun outside,' Mejia said. 'It's pretty hot outside.' Galvan knew it would be sweltering but did not expect it to be so intense. 'A few days ago, it was like pretty normal temperatures,' Galvan said. 'It's kind of crazy. If you remember last year, it was 80 degrees by this month. It keeps increasing.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
This Arizona city is the sunniest in the world. Hint: it's not in metro Phoenix
Arizona holds a lot of world records, but one title feels especially on the nose — the sunniest city in the world. Yuma takes that title, according to Guinness World Records. The Guinness World Record listing notes that Yuma received sunshine during 91% of the possible hours of sunshine, making it officially the sunniest place in not just the United States but the whole wide world. Here's what to know about sunshine in Yuma, why it is so sunny there and how it compares to other Grand Canyon State cities, plus the top 10 sunniest cities in the United States. Yuma receives an average of 4,015.3 hours of sunshine each year, making it the sunniest city. Of the more than 150 U.S. cities studied, the average amount of sunshine per year was just 2734.6 hours. Yuma isn't just the sunniest city in Arizona or the United States, it's considered the sunniest in the whole world. Phoenix is the second sunniest, though it receives almost 150 hours less sunshine per year. The third sunniest city is Aswan, Egypt. Alicia Ryan, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said that Yuma sees little rain each year because of the pattern of weather systems. "Even during the monsoon season, there is not a lot of moisture there. They are often under a ridge, which brings the hot, dry weather," Ryan said. Weird world records: 19 of Arizona's, from longest chimichanga to biggest UFO convention Yuma recently experienced one of its longest dry streaks on record, topping out at 215 days without rain, according to the weather service. The storm system that moved through the state last week ended the streak. The longest dry stretch in Yuma history was 380 days, which started in December 2001 and ended in December 2002. Yuma isn't the only overly sunny city in the Grand Canyon State. Several other Arizona cities are also top the list of sunniest US cities, according to World Meteorological Organization data. Phoenix: Average of 3,871.6 hours of sunshine each year. Tucson: Average of 3,806 hours of sunshine each year. Flagstaff: Average of 3,475.4 hours of sunshine each year. These are the 10 sunniest cities in the United States, according to World Meteorological Organization data. Yuma: Average of 4,015.3 hours of sunshine each year. Phoenix: Average of 3,871.6 hours of sunshine each year. Las Vegas: Average of 3825.3 hours of sunshine each year. Tucson: Average of 3,806 hours of sunshine each year. El Paso: Average of 3,762.5 hours of sunshine each year. Reno, Nevada: Average of 3645.9 hours of sunshine each year. Sacramento: Average of 3607.8 hours of sunshine each year. Fresno, California: Average of 3564.2 hours of sunshine each year. Red Bluff, California: Average of 3542.9 hours of sunshine each year. Flagstaff: Average of 3,475.4 hours of sunshine each year. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: This Arizona city is the sunniest in the world. Here's why
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
2025 ties with 1991 for the hottest February on record, weather service says
2025 is already setting weather records as February tied for the hottest February in Phoenix on record, according to the National Weather Service. Spring arrived early with above-normal temperatures throughout the month. The average temperature in February was 66 degrees, a 6.1-degree departure from normal at 59.9 degrees. This year tied with 1991 for the hottest February on record. 'We were just sitting under a ridge of high pressure, allowing temperatures to keep rising and rising,' said Alicia Ryan, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service office in Phoenix. High-pressure systems can cause warmer temperatures as air compresses, and there are typically fewer clouds, allowing more direct sunlight to reach the ground. This winter's La Niña also could have played a role. La Niña is a climatological pattern stemming from the Pacific Ocean that tends to create drier and warmer conditions than usual in the Southwest. During a La Niña cycle, cooler temperatures in the Pacific Ocean trigger a chain reaction of weather events around the world, affecting temperature and precipitation. While February was warmer than normal, Phoenix will cool slightly this week as two low-pressure systems will move through the region. The high temperatures in the beginning and end of the week will be in the 60s and as low as the 40s overnight. There will be a slight warm-up midweek between systems. 'Now we're seeing that ridge pattern breaking, and that's why we're getting a little bit of the cooler temperatures,' Ryan said. Hayleigh Evans writes about extreme weather and related topics for The Arizona Republic and Email her with story tips at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: February 2025 was one of the hottest in Phoenix ever, tying with 1991
