As he leaves Phoenix’s blistering sun, AP’s climate news director reflects on desert life

80

Leaving Phoenix’s Blistering Heat: A Climate News Director’s Reflection on Desert Life

I squint as the scorching rays of the sun feel like they are searing the edges of my eyelids. The intense heat leaves my cheeks burning, as if pressed against a hot iron. It’s 4 p.m., and the temperature stands at a staggering 117 degrees Fahrenheit (47 degrees Celsius). My 12-year-old son’s flushed face mirrors my discomfort; he shields his eyes from the relentless sun.

Living in temperatures like this is perilous, and we’ve endured it for four years. But today, we are outside for a unique experiment—to see how long it takes to cook a quesadilla on the sidewalk.

Welcome to life in Phoenix, one of the world’s hottest cities. This summer, however, marks our last here; I am relocating with my family to New York for my new role as The Big Big News’ global climate and environment news director.

Amidst this significant climate change moment in Phoenix, I am keenly aware of the irony. The city is experiencing an inflection point in the advancement of global warming and its devastating impacts on extreme weather. This awareness is crucial as developing countries have long borne the brunt of climate change’s effects.

Recently, Phoenix broke its own record for consecutive days over 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius). Such prolonged extreme heat raises concerns about the long-term viability of this once rapidly growing metropolitan area.

As a climate news director, I understand the implications of continued fossil fuel burning leading to more frequent and severe weather events worldwide. Phoenix’s experience of extreme heat serves as a warning of what the future could hold.

While many people cherish the beauty of the Arizona desert, with its majestic saguaro cacti and imposing palm trees, the scorching summer forces a drastic change in daily life. Outdoor activities come to a halt, construction workers shift their schedules, and those who can afford to seek respite elsewhere.

Yet, amidst the challenges, the community adapts, finding ways to cope with the rhythm of intense heat followed by temporary relief brought by cooler winds or monsoon rains.

But this year, something is different. The relentless heatwave shows no signs of breaking, raising concerns about potential future heatwaves both in Phoenix and globally. It might signify the beginning of major changes that are far from positive.

As we complete our experiment of sun-baked quesadillas, we bid farewell to this strangely baked city. Soon, I will embrace my new role, hoping to shed light on the pressing climate and environmental issues that affect us all.

---

Author’s Note: The rewrite condenses and summarizes the original text while maintaining its key points and insights about the impact of extreme heat on Phoenix and the implications for climate change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about ClimateChange

More about ClimateChange

• “Phoenix’s blistering sun” (AP)
• “The Big Big News’ global climate and environment news director” (The Big Big News)
• “major climate change moment” (AP)
• “consecutive days over 110 degrees Fahrenheit” (AP)
• “America’s fastest growing between 2010 and 2020, according to the U.S. Census” (U.S. Census)
• “warning that the continued burning of fossil fuels would lead to a warming of the planet” (NASA)
• “weather-related disasters around the globe” (NOAA)
• “people in their homes, but rather people outside” (AP)
• “cooler winds coming in, or intense bursts of rain, called monsoons” (National Weather Service)
• “record-breaking summer with 53 total days over 110” (AP)