Arizona will experience significantly higher temperatures over the next 20 years. This could expose residents to more harmful effects of warming, according to a recent report. Compared with historical data, Arizona’s average annual temperatures could increase by three degrees within two decades.
The report uses county-level temperature data to assess how annual warming and extreme heat will change from 2020 to 2040. The state is also expected to see a 20% increase in days above 95 degrees. Average summer temperatures could rise by two degrees.
“We’re already experiencing an increase in warming and extreme heat across the country,” said Kelly McCusker, a climate scientist at the Climate Impact Lab. “I think a lot about how that will worsen and how that heat affects people unequally.”
Maricopa County is expected to see an increase of about 2.42 degrees. The county could have roughly 17 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Pima County is expected to see an increase of about 2.38 degrees. The county could have roughly 22 more days above 90 degrees each year. Pinal County is expected to see an increase of about 2.39 degrees.
The county could have roughly 17 more days above 90 degrees each year. Apache County is expected to see an increase of about 2.54 degrees. The county could have roughly 14 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Cochise County is expected to see an increase of about 2.38 degrees. The county could have roughly 24 more days above 90 degrees each year. Coconino County is expected to see an increase of about 2.48 degrees.
The county could have roughly 12 more days above 90 degrees each year. Gila County is expected to see an increase of about 2.38 degrees. The county could have roughly 21 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Graham County is expected to see an increase of about 2.38 degrees. The county could have roughly 24 more days above 90 degrees each year. Greenlee County is expected to see an increase of about 2.42 degrees.
The county could have roughly 23 more days above 90 degrees each year. La Paz County is expected to see an increase of about 2.28 degrees. The county could have roughly 15 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Arizona’s increasing number of hot days
Mohave County is expected to see an increase of about 2.33 degrees. The county could have roughly 15 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Navajo County is expected to see an increase of about 2.4 degrees. The county could have roughly 16 more days above 90 degrees each year. Santa Cruz County is expected to see an increase of about 2.31 degrees.
The county could have roughly 24 more days above 90 degrees each year. Yavapai County is expected to see an increase of about 2.37 degrees. The county could have roughly 22 more days above 90 degrees each year.
Yuma County is expected to see an increase of about 2.26 degrees. The county could have roughly 16 more days above 90 degrees each year. Climate change is expected to impact temperatures unevenly across the U.S. in the next two decades.
The Gulf Coast could experience a significant increase in extreme heat. Large parts of the northern U.S. may see dramatic warming. Across the country, more Americans may be exposed to the harmful effects of heating.
Many counties that already experience warm weather will face more days of dangerous heat by 2040. Counties in Arizona, such as Yavapai, Gila, Pima, Graham, Greenlee, Santa Cruz, and Cochise, are among the U.S. counties expected to see the most additional days above 90 degrees. More than 1,000 counties are projected to see more than 21 additional days above 90 degrees.
Nearly 750 counties may experience an increase of 14 to 21 additional days above 90 degrees. About 640 counties are expected to see seven to 14 additional days. Roughly 830 counties are projected to see fewer than seven more days above 90 degrees.
Exposure to extreme heat can be uncomfortable at best and deadly at worst. Heat is already one of the leading weather-related killers in the U.S. More days above 90 degrees may increase the number of heat-related deaths and illnesses. High temperatures can overwhelm the body’s ability to cool itself.
This can lead to heat exhaustion or heatstroke, especially among vulnerable populations like children and older adults. Adding green spaces, installing air conditioning, and constructing cooling centers can help mitigate the worst effects of extreme heat. But funding these solutions can be challenging.
McCusker emphasized that reducing emissions is crucial for mitigating the impacts of a rapidly warming climate. “We’ve shown that lives can be saved,” McCusker said.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
