A record string of daily highs of more than 43.3 C in Phoenix ended Monday as the dangerous heat wave that suffocated the Southwest throughout July receded slightly with cooling monsoon rains.
The historic heat began blasting the region in June, stretching from Texas across New Mexico and Arizona and into California’s desert. Phoenix and its suburbs sweltered more and longer than most, with several records including the 31 consecutive days of 43.3 C temperatures and higher. The previous record was 18 straight days, set in 1974.
The streak was finally broken Monday, when the high topped out at 42.2 C at 3:10 p.m.
“The high temperature for
