By
Rebecca Missel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Relief on the way for above-average temperatures
When the temperature rose to 107 degrees last Thursday, it broke a 100-year-old record.
"What's happening is not typical," said Pat Holbrook, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson.
The average temperature for the first 17 days of September this year is 85.7 degrees - 3.7 degrees warmer than average. The hottest September came in 1945, when the heat averaged 85.9 degrees.
"You have to go back to World War II to find similar temperatures," Holbrook said. "We're number two right now on having the hottest days."
As temperatures rose throughout this month, rainfall from monsoons has declined.
"We're behind in terms of precipitation in summer monsoons and the year in whole," said Charles Weidman, a lecturer in atmospheric sciences at the University of Arizona. "It's a couple of inches off so far."
Weidman pointed out that although the last two weeks have been warmer than normal, the entire summer has not followed this pattern.
"A little while ago it was much cooler," he said.
Currently a low-pressure trough is moving west after spending the summer along the Eastern states, which will soon provide relief from the heat, Holbrook said.
"The good news is Mother Nature has decided to reorganize things," he said. "That means a cool-down in temperatures by about five degrees next week."
Despite this month's record-breaking heat, Holbrook said that the trends do not reflect concerns about global warming.
"We're adaptive," he said. "I doubt we'll see another year like this for a while."
For non-native Arizonans, temperatures more than 100 degrees in mid-September can take a little adjustment.
"I lived in Hawaii, and the heat is different there because you get the winds from the oceans," said Dallas Ige, a management and information systems sophomore. "Now I don't stay outside for longer than I need to."
In order to cope, students are sticking to the shade and trying to stay hydrated.
"Due to the heat, water sales are way up," said Coleen Cummings, supervisor for the Fiddlee Fig. "They're buying bottles on top of their meals and the smoothie bar is more popular, too."
Although beverage purchases have increased, cold and hot food sales have been stable, Cummings said.
Another problem is the temperature variation between the 100-degree weather outdoors and air-conditioned classrooms.
"My classes are freezing cold, but it's really hot outside," said Brittany Hahn, a communication junior who carries a jacket to class to keep warm.
Once she braves the heat, Hahn uses a few strategies to keep cool.
"I sit out on the (UA) Mall and eat lunch, but other than that I retreat indoors," she said. "I drink a lot of water and sit in the pool with friends during breaks."
The rumors that Arizona's summers are more be arable because of the dry climate are true, Hahn said.
"I'm from San Diego, and I expected it to be much worse," she said. "We have humidity there and it makes it so much more hideous - of course, there are days here when the heat makes me physically sick."
