 for the 12th consecutive day, according to the National Weather Service. The longest recorded stretch so far was 18 days in 1974.){kind=link}
Usual monsoon activity, which can help offset blazing temperatures, is missing in Southwest
Broiling in the Southwest, flooding in the Northeast: extreme weather is again disrupting the United States this summer.
A heat wave brought 100-degree-plus temperatures and excessive heat warnings to Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Southern California this week, and the usual monsoon activity, which can help offset the blazing temperatures, is missing. In Arizona, the monsoon season officially began on June 15 and can bring powerful storms with high winds, lightning and heavy bursts of rain.
The heat has made parts of the main city, Phoenix, feel like a ghost town, the Associated Press reported. Sunset concerts were cancelled, and covered restaurant patios equipped with cooling misters sit empty.
In recent years, Phoenix has taken various actions to limit risks for heat-related illness. When the US National Weather Service issues an excessive heat warning, three of the city’s most popular hiking trails close from 11am to 5pm.