Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990 TAG: 9006270298
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PHOENIX LENGTH: Medium
A heat wave that stretched from the Southern California coast to the heart of Texas reached its sweltering peak in Phoenix, which set an all-time record of 120 degrees on Monday and promptly broke it a day later.
The National Weather Service advised the metropolitan area's 2.1 million residents to stay indoors, carry plenty of water when driving and not leave pets or children inside parked cars.
Phoenix natives pride themselves on their resistance to heat, but out-of-towners were shocked. Emery Jones of Castledale, Utah, drove into town with his wife, Suzanne, in an air-conditioned car. When they stepped out, he said, "it took our breath away."
Monday's high of 120 broke the old record of 118 degrees that had been set on four occasions.
Tuesday morning's low of 91 degrees also set a record for the date and was close to the 93-degree reading of July 20, 1989, which was the highest low temperature ever recorded here.
Weather service meteorologist Craig Ellis said the high temperatures were caused by a strong high-pressure area in the upper atmosphere and the sun beating almost directly down on the Earth.
He predicted the temperature would peak Tuesday or today before cooling off to around 113 degrees.
In Tucson, about 1,200 feet higher, the temperature hit an all-time record of 115 degrees.
The state didn't swelter alone.
Borrego Springs, Calif., in the Anza-Borrego Desert, had Monday's nationwide high of 122 degrees, and the weather service reported temperatures above 110 degrees in low deserts eastward to New Mexico.
by CNB