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Social media may be full of hopeful signs of pumpkins as we turn the page into September this week, but no so fast in the Valley.
Autumn won’t officially arrive until Thursday, Sept. 22, and the next few days will certainly feel farther from it than that.
The National Weather Service has issued an excessive heat warning for Glendale and the Valley Metro from 10 a.m. Tuesday morning through 8 p.m. Wednesday. By 9 a.m. this morning, the Glendale Municipal Airport was already showing 101 degrees.
Glendale is expected to reach a high of 110 Tuesday, followed by forecast highs of 107 Wednesday, 106 Thursday, 107 Friday and 108 on Saturday.
Monsoon activity appears to be taking a break at the moment.
“There were a few isolated storms over the northern portion of the state (Monday), but other than that, it was a quiet monsoon day. One of the main reasons for this inactive pattern is dry air that has filtered into the region in the mid/upper levels of the atmosphere along with high pressure (sinking air) putting a big lid on activity,” the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality posted on its Tuesday morning blog.
“This morning the weather pattern features an area of high pressure over the southern portion of California, another high pressure spread across Colorado and Utah, a disturbance moving north up through Oregon, and finally, an area of low pressure over the southeast corner of New Mexico. What this pattern means for today is continued dry weather, light winds, and hot weather, with afternoon high temperatures nearing or exceeding the 110-degree mark.”
ADEQ also has issued an ozone high pollution advisory for the Phoenix Metro Area Tuesday. This means that forecast weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk. Adverse health effects increase as air quality deteriorates.
“Ozone is an air contaminant which can cause breathing difficulties for children, older adults, as well as persons with respiratory problems,” ADEQ explains. “A decrease in physical activity is recommended.”
The National Weather Service during an excessive heat warning recommends residents stay indoors and seek air-conditioned buildings, and, besides drinking more water than usual, to avoid dehydrating alcoholic, sugary, or caffeinated drinks. Eating small meals and eating more often is recommended, and monitoring family, friends and neighbors is also important, especially the elderly.
Never leave kids or pets unattended in cars.
The Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services will activate 11 heat relief stations throughout the Valley, where anyone in need can go for indoor cooling and hydration during the excessive heat warning. Anyone is welcome into a Salvation Army location for indoor cooling and hydration during regular operating hours.
The Glendale location is at the Glendale Corps Community Center, 6010 W. Northern Ave., and will be available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday.
Steve Stockmar has been with the Independent Newsmedia team since 2017. An NAU alum and Peoria resident, Steve’s community journalism pursuits focus mostly on arts & culture, education, and profiles of neighbors making a difference. In his spare time Steve plays in a vintage baseball league using uniforms and rules from the 1860s, and also acts (badly) in community theater. In addition, he has an unhealthy obsession with baseball and the Chicago Cubs.
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