Heat

Johnny Marquez with Morningstar Landscaping takes a swig of water after finishing work at about 3 p.m. in the Paseo Del Rio neighborhood park on Tucson’s northwest side. Less than a hour later Tuesday, the temperature topped out at 116 degrees at the airport.

Tucson’s high of 115 degrees Wednesday broke another daily record.

The triple-digit heat broke the old record for the date of 112 degrees set in 1988, and tied in 1990, said Aaron Hardin, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service. The low was 82 degrees at 5:50 a.m.

For the first time ever in Tucson, Wednesday marked the third day that the high hit 115 degrees or above, said Hardin. On Monday, the high of 115 degrees tied the daily record, and on Tuesday 116 degrees broke a record for the date.

These are some of the hottest temperatures Tucson has ever recorded, with the all-time record high 117 degrees.

β€œWe’ve never had three days straight, period, of 115 degrees or above in Tucson for the entire period of record,” said Hardin.

Another marvel for Wednesday β€” the first day of summer β€” was that β€œit was the first time Tucson has had an average daily temperature in the triple digits. It was 102 degrees. The average temperature for the day is usually in the 90s or 80s,” Hardin said.

An excessive heat warning will remain in place for the region until Sunday. Slight chances of rain begin appearing in the forecast on Sunday for Tucson.

Tucson Fire Department paramedics responded to more than 15 heat-related calls Wednesday, and seven people were transported to a hospital, according to a department tweet.

This heat wave continues. The forecast for Thursday’s high is 110 degrees. On Friday, the high is predicted at 108 degrees.

Triple-digit highs are expected to remain at 105 degrees or above until Wednesday, June 28, when the forecast is for 103 degrees, Hardin said.


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Contact reporter Carmen Duarte at cduarte@tucson.com or 573-4104.