Phoenix Weather Facts

On the previous page we discussed the different elevations in Arizona, the hot and cold spots of the state, and cleared up some meteorological terms.

Now, let's get to the nitty gritty--desert heat. Yes, it gets hot in Arizona's Sonoran Desert. That's where the Greater Phoenix area is located. Here are some triple digit details and trivia, provided courtesy of the Western Region Headquarters of the National Weather Service.

Triple Digit Facts for Phoenix, as of 2010

The highest temperatures ever recorded in Phoenix were:

122°F on June 26, 1990;

121°F on July 28, 1995;

120°F on June 25, 1990;

118°F on  July 16, 1925,  June 24, 1929, July 11, 1958, July 4, 1989, June 27, 1990, June 28, 1990, July 27, 1995, July 21, 2006 and July 2, 2011.

More Triple Digit Facts for Phoenix

• The average number of 100°F or higher days in Phoenix from 1896-2010: 92


• The average number of 110°F or higher days in Phoenix from 1896-2010: 11


• The fewest number of 100°F or higher days ever recorded in Phoenix: 48 in 1913


• The fewest number of 110°F or higher days ever recorded in Phoenix: 0 in 1911


• The greatest number of 100°F or higher days ever recorded in Phoenix: 143 in 1989


• The greatest number of 110°F or higher days ever recorded in Phoenix: 33 in 2011


• The greatest number of consecutive days with temperatures of 100°F or higher: 76 in 1993


• The greatest number of consecutive days with temperatures of 110°F or higher: 18 in 1974

Phoenix Triple Digit Extremes

• The first occurrence of 100°F or higher: March 26


• The last occurrence of 100°F or higher: October 23


• The first occurrence of 110°F or higher: May 10


• The last occurrence of 110°F or higher: September 19

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