The dog days of summer are heating up, sending millions of Americans inside to sit in front of their air conditioners and dream about the colder months that lie ahead. Arizona is no stranger to heat, especially its capital Phoenix, which is often regarded as the hottest city in the country due to its sweltering desert temperatures. This summer, however, Phoenix's heat has been outdone by a small town a few hours away.
The town of Needles, California sits on the border with Arizona in the desert just southeast of Mojave National Preserve. According to the Arizona State Climate Office, Needles had an average daily temperature of 103.2 degrees in July, outdoing Phoenix's highest average temperature last July of 102.7 degrees. As a result, the small town of just over 5,000 was the hottest inhabited place in the country last month.
"Phoenix is happy to relinquish the record to Needles, now the hottest monthly U.S. city with 103.2 degrees Fahrenheit (preliminary average July temperature)," the agency quipped on social media. It turns out Needles isn't the only California city to join the list.
"Arizona welcomes a few new members to the 100-degree-plus monthly temperature club: Palm Springs (100.0 degrees Fahrenheit) and Blythe (100.7 degrees Fahrenheit). Welcome?" the post said. "This is the second time Phoenix had a monthly temperature of 100-degrees-plus (101.1 degrees this July, last year 102.7 degrees, the previous record)."
Phoenix is happy to relinquish the record to Needles, now the hottest monthly U.S. city with 103.2°F (preliminary avg July temp).
— AZ State Climate (@AZStateClimate) August 1, 2024
Arizona welcomes a few new members to the 100°F+ monthly temp club: Palm Springs (100.0°F) and Blythe (100.7°F). Welcome?
This is the 2nd time… pic.twitter.com/0IxUByqtWk
Needles' mayor Jan Jernigan wasn't surprised that her town took the top spot. "We probably did [beat the record], quite easily," she told The Los Angeles Times.
The municipality has started holding city events in the early morning hours to beat the heat. A food distribution event on Aug. 1, for example, started at 5 a.m. and ended at 8 a.m. before Mother Nature cranked up the thermostat for the day.
Luckily, residents don't have to rely on their AC to stay comfortable. The city is located on the Colorado River and has three beaches open to the public, allowing you to cool off with a freshwater swim in the middle of the desert. Still, it might not provide complete relief.
"You've [got to] be waist-deep in the Colorado River," city manager Patrick Martinez said.
If you plan on driving Route 66 this summer, stop in Needles and get some commemorative "red hot" candies.
