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Title: Temperature reaches 118 degrees, highest in over a decade (Phoenix)
Source:
Arizona Republic
URL Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0722weather-ON.html
Published: Jul 22, 2006
Author: Michael Clancy
Post Date: 2006-07-22 12:42:44 by Red Jones
Keywords: None
Views: 94
Comments: 1
Temperature reaches 118 degrees, highest in over a decade Michael Clancy The Arizona Republic Jul. 22, 2006 12:00 PM The mercury soared to 118 degrees Friday, making it the hottest day of the year, the hottest since July 1995 and one of the 11 hottest days since 1895, when temperature records first were kept in Phoenix. The record heat, expected to continue today, sent crews from churches, government agencies and social service organizations into the streets in search of homeless people and others suffering outdoors. The Phoenix area reached 118 at 4:07 p.m. Temperatures topped the 79-year-old record of 112 for the day by 1 p.m. advertisement It was the hottest day since July 28, 1995, which at 121 degrees was one of only three days in Valley history to top 120. The Valley came close Friday, and some locations, including Luke Air Force Base, hit 120 degrees. However, a late-afternoon thunderstorm that moved across the north Valley dropped temperatures at Deer Valley Airport by 32 degrees within an hour, to 84 from 116. The storm flooded streets and blew down power lines. A 61-mph gust was recorded at Scottsdale Airport, and an inch of rain fell at Pima and Jomax roads in half an hour. The storm knocked out power to about 16,800 customers of Arizona Public Service Co., according to an APS spokesman. About 5,500 in the Carefree and Cave Creek area remained without power Friday night, and the company warned the outages would remain "deep into the weekend" because of downed power poles. The storm brought welcome relief from the heat, which reached dangerous levels early in the afternoon. Fearing the heat-related illness that was blamed for the deaths of 32 people a year ago, the crews spread a simple message to anyone who would listen: Drink lots of water and try to stay cool. Dozens of churches and government buildings threw open their doors in far greater numbers than last year, enabling people to go in and cool off. At some locations on Friday, people appeared to be going about their normal business, waiting for buses or walking to their destinations. At others, people took shelter in city parks, trying to stay cool. At 35th Avenue and Roosevelt, Enos Clark, 59, sat in the sun on a park bench, sweating profusely. He said he had places to go if it got too hot but was in the park while he was off work for the day. A pair of men, Antonio Espinoza and Jesus Villegas, said they planned to while away the day resting in the heat. The third heat emergency of the year was declared for Friday and today, triggering a massive mobilization to deliver water and check on the elderly and homeless. "We move when the National Weather Service issues heat warnings, just to make sure everyone gets what they need," said Rachel Southard of Salvation Army's Project Hope, an outreach to people living on the streets. "Our goal is no heat-related deaths." Salvation Army sent staff members and volunteers to six locations around the Valley to hand out water, hats and information. At 32nd Street and Thomas Road, George Torres, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico, was passing water out to whoever would take it: passers-by in cars, people waiting for the bus, those walking by. "We are supposed to give the bus drivers water," he said. "We have UPS, the mailman, everybody is here making sure they are staying cool." Sayek Ibraham, 51, of Phoenix, poured water over his head as he danced to the Mexican music Torres was playing. Mark Duby of Phoenix, a volunteer with the Salvation Army, said he was enjoying the work, his first time out. He said he read about the opportunity in the paper and was motivated "by Biblical reasons." "When I was thirsty, you gave me drink," he said, quoting the Gospel of Matthew. Jeanene Fowler-Derepentigny of the Maricopa County Department of Public Health said the Salvation Army's was one of many efforts taking place Friday and again today. "We are working better collectively," she said.
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Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/LatestGood grief - don't chop any firewood this afternoon, Red.
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