As if 2020 didn’t have enough to be remembered by — Phoenix tied its record for most days at or above 100 degrees within a calendar year on Tuesday. 

The National Weather Service in Phoenix recorded hitting triple digits just before 3 p.m.

The record of 143 days of 100-plus degree weather was set in 1989.

CATCH UP: Phoenix could break record of 100-plus degree days this week

Not only did Phoenix reach that Tuesday, Sean Benedict, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said the city is likely to surpass it, too.

“We weren’t sure we’d see the day, but there is a very, very good chance this week will go down in history,” Benedict said. 

According to Benedict, the high on Wednesday and Thursday was expected to remain at or about 101 degrees. 

“We could even see temperatures near 100 going into the early weekend,” he said. 

If that happens, it will only cement 2020’s place as the year with the most 100-plus degree days. 

Phoenix weather has already broken a multitude of records this year — it was the hottest summer, 50 days of 110-degree heat beat the previous 33, and August was the hottest its been since tracking began in 1896. 

This year is also on track to be one of the hottest on record overall, which is calculated by averaging each day’s high and low temperature, and then taking the average for every day in a year, Benedict said.

When considering the average temperature through Oct. 13, so far this year has been the fifth hottest with an average of 80.9 degrees.

Benedict said the extensive heat has been caused by a “significant lack of rain” and a lackluster monsoon season.  

‘NON-SOON’ SEASON: Arizona’s second dry monsoon season breaks records

“When it’s really dry, we are able to heat up a lot quicker during the day,” he said. “To top it off, we had already come into the summer with abnormally high air pressure and we will continue to see that into the fall.” 

Human-caused climate change and the urban heat island effect have also contributed to this hotter weather, as heat is retained in Phoenix’s concrete, asphalt and buildings. Climate change has increased the average temperature in Phoenix by 4.35 degrees since 1970, according to a 2019 report by Climate Central.

Reach the reporter Jamie Landers at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @jamielandersx.

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