National Weather Service Zone - AZZ023 PSRNPWPSR WWUS75 KPSR 101249 NPWPSR URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHOENIX AZ 549 AM MST SUN JUL 10 2005 AZZ022-023-027-028-102300- GREATER PHOENIX AREA-... SCOTTSDALE... 549 AM MST SUN JUL 10 2005 HEAT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM MONDAY FOR THE DESERT AREAS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL ARIZONA. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN PHOENIX HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY FOR THE SOUTH-CENTRAL DESERTS OF ARIZONA...INCLUDING THE GREATER PHOENIX AREA...FROM 10 AM UNTIL 8 PM ON MONDAY. THE EXPECTED AFTERNOON HIGH TEMPERATURE AT PHOENIX ON MONDAY IS 111 DEGREES...AND MOST OF THE SOUTH-CENTRAL DESERTS WILL RANGE BETWEEN 109 AND 112 DEGREES. IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE MONDAY...IT WILL BE HOT...SO AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO THE HEAT AND SUN...AND AVOID STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IF POSSIBLE. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. STAY IN THE SHADE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND DRINK PLENTY OF NON-ALCOHOLIC FLUIDS TO AVOID DEHYDRATION. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT...LIGHT-COLORED...LOOSE-FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A WIDE-BRIMMED HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN.
Now heres the thing, NWS temperature for phoenix is taken in two places, at the airport on a patch of grass at the top of a 12 foot pole; and at the top of a 2700 foot mountain.
This has an irritating effect (at least to me), that the NWS numbers, while useful meteorologically, HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ACTUAL TEMP ON THE GROUND.
Typically seaking, the actual ground temps are from 5-20 degrees hotter than the official temps of the day. I have several accurate thermometers, and on a "109 degree" day, the thermometer I have on my THIRD FLOOR PORCH IN THE SHADE, generally reads 114-117. The official temp yesterday was 109, my thermometer? 117 (the one in my car said 116)
That means if they issue a warning for 112, you can guarandamntee its gonna be over 120 in the streets.
Yay!
Posted by cbyrne at July 10, 2005 11:05 AM | TrackBack