Tucson gets first extreme heat watch of 2024 (2024)

The National Weather Service’s first first extreme heat watch of the year for Tucson is coming at the end of the week.

“We’re looking at temperatures on Thursday of 109 degrees and almost as warm on Friday with 108 degrees,” said Meteorologist Chris Rasmussen.

While Arizonans are no strangers to high summer temperatures, Rasmussen said that the extreme heat should not be taken lightly.

“The heat can be dangerous,” Rasmussen said. “Temperatures get so brutal that it’s very difficult for their people’s bodies to cool off.”

The Tucson Fire Department responded to 386 heat related calls in 2023, said Capt. Paul Moore.

It is important for Tucsonans to follow heat safety practices, Moore said.

“There’s the saying that we’re always a quart low to start off with,” Moore said. “So hydration, hydration, hydration. Always stay ahead of that.”

“Obviously, we want to enjoy the beautiful outdoors here in the Sonoran Desert, but we always advise that if you’re gonna go for a hike, maybe better stay away from the heat of the day,” Moore said. “If you are going to do it, go with the companion, plan your hike, let people know where you’re gonna go, and generally avoid the longer hikes and stay closer to refueling sources.”

Due to the hazardous health risks associated with extreme temperatures, Moore said the best way to beat the heat is to stay indoors in air conditioned spaces.

“Generally, it’s probably a better idea to avoid it, especially weeks like this,” Moore said.

For those seeking resources or a space to wait out the heat wave, cooling centers will be open from noon to 4pm through Aug. 31, the city said.

The good news, according to Rasmussen, is that Tucson might see some relief from the dangerously high temperatures as soon as this weekend.

“There is a weather disturbance that is going to be kind of pushing the air close to southeast Arizona from the Southwest and that should nudge our temperatures back down again,” he said. “So as we get into the weekend, we’re looking at temperatures dropping down to 102 on Saturday and even 99 degrees on Sunday.”

Higher temperatures also mean more use of public and private pools, and Moore urged the public to follow pool safety measures to stay safe while fending off the summer heat.

“We did have a pediatric drowning last week,” Moore said.

On Thursday, the Northwest Fire District also responded to two separate near-drownings involving children according to KVOA.

Moore said that when playing in the pool, or recreating near water this summer, it is important to practice the ABCs of water safety.

“A is active adult supervision. The active component of that being probably the most important when you’re supervising children,” Moore said. “You’re either in the pool with them or you’re actively watching them, just being present isn’t enough.”

B, Moore said, is for barriers or barricades.

“We want to make it difficult for anyone to get into a pool by accident,” Moore said. “Those barricades should be self closing, self latching, or even have alarms to them.”

The last component is classes. Moore said that includes swim classes for kids and kids and CPR classes for parents and adults.

“Obviously, we want to enjoy the outdoors, we want to enjoy the pools, but heat related injuries and pool safety are of the utmost importance here in the summer,” Moore said.