The sweltering heat continued in Tucson with a daily record high of 116 degrees Tuesday โ breaking the not-so-old record of 112, set just last year.
It hit 116 degrees at 3:56 p.m. at Tucson International Airport, said Gary Zell, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. The low was a toasty 87 degrees at 6:03 a.m. and it reached 100 degrees by 8 a.m.
Tuesdayโs high is one degree away from the all-time record of 117 degrees, the hottest day ever recorded in Tucson on June 26, 1990.
The sizzling temperatures had paramedics respond to 13 heat-related calls shortly before 5:30 p.m., said Capt. Andy Skaggs, a Tucson Fire Department spokesman. One man, who was walking outside in the heat, was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover, said Skaggs.
On Monday with a high of 115 degrees, paramedics responded to 15 heat-related calls, two coming in after sundown. No one needed to be taken to a hospital, Skaggs said.
A storm that developed near Vail in the late afternoon did not drop rain but moved through the Tucson area and out to Three Points, dropping the temperature to 108 degrees by 5 p.m., said Zell.
โThis is the beginning of the monsoon and it is typical to get gusty winds, blowing dust and little rain, or isolated traces of rain,โ said Zell. The monsoon season runs from June 15 to Sept. 30.
The heat wave will continue, and Wednesdayโs forecast is for a record high of 113 degrees, which if it hits, will break the mark of 112 set June 21, 1990, said Zell.
Thursdayโs forecast is a high of 110 degrees. The record for that date is 114 degrees set in 1988.
Zell said deeper moisture is expected to move in by Sunday into next week with more significant rains and thunderstorms.
Phoenix hit a record high for the date when it reached 119. The all-time high recorded in Phoenix is 122 set June 26, 1990.
