Captain Cheesestick

Morning.

My wife is off to Phoenix in a few weeks to "see what it's like." Mostly what absurd dry heat feels like (and to do some stuff for work too). Where we live in CNY is humid, wet and the weather is very predictable. Anyone have any context for what the difference in weather is like? What the heck does dry 100 degree heat feel like? And the monsoons - easy to get on with your day with them?

And any other recommendations for stuff to do whilst there would be nice. Ta.

scrubbedexpat091

Turn your oven on, heat it until 100 degrees or so, and open the door and let the heat hit your face, thats pretty much what 100 degrees dry heat is like...lol

Its not that bad there, spent 2 summers in Phoenix and overall wasn't miserable until closer to the 110 mark.

The monsoons didn't really affect my day to day life, did my work life (working for an airline at the time) but they were cool for the most part, brought cooler temps for a bit.

AZ_Alba

Forecast is for 107 today and a chance of monsoon rain thursday and Friday.

As to what to do depends on transport, where she is staying and what she likes to do. If she is driving have her review what to do if caught in a dust storms, though these If they do occur are normally if the afternoon or evening. Do not drive through washes if they are running.

Just a short list straight off the top of my head.

Could head north anf go to Sedona, flagstaff, grand canyon.

Or head south east Tucson, biosphere 2, kartchner caverns.

In town museums such as the Heard museum, water parks, golf if you get out early in the morning, shopping in Scottsdale or Chandlerfashion malls

sir_eccles

The main problem with monsoons is that nobody knows how to drive in them.

Humidity has gone up a little and will rise until July / August when it peaks.

The biggest problem with the heat I find is that the night time temperatures are still in the high 90s.

If she is in the north of the city the musical instrument museum is worth a look.

Captain Cheesestick

Nice work people. She's there for 5 days. Probably will drive around (pop out to Flagstaff for definite) a bit. And it being here she's still going to take a fleece (and will likely wear it as well).

Michael

Make sure she doesn't walk on concrete without shoes or sandals which will likely be 130 degrees or more. Even a second or two can be very painful.

sir_eccles

Best not to go outside period.

I never really understood drive through banks/food/liquor/everything else until summer in Phoenix.

Noorah101

It would be nice if wherever she's staying has a pool.

Everywhere has AC, so basically you're only outside from the hotel to the car, from the car to the office.

As for what the heat feels like, it's exactly like walking into an oven. Hot and dry. Although with the monsoons coming, the humidity is up. Right now, at 12:30 pm, it's only 98 degrees, but 31% humidity, which is REALLY high for us. It's supposed to rain Wed and Thurs this week.

When it rains, it's lovely...you get all the desert smells, which is something very unique and refreshing.

Rene

Captain Cheesestick

It's 89 here right now. Humidity is 85%. It's farking 'orrible.

N1cky

What to do? Stay inside in the air con all day.

Whenever I have been in the summer, it's been like a ghost town during the day, the place appears deserted if you look out of the windows

arran29

I hated it. We lived there from Jan to June 3 years ago and couldn't wait to leave. Unbearably hot, just a concrete jungle, quite a trashy place all in all.

Steerpike

I didn't want to come here but had no choice due to job situation. I have found lots of things to like. July is not one of them ...

The 'dry heat' is wonderful; like everyone says, it feels like when you open your oven after it's been on for a while. Compare to the feeling you get when you open your dishwasher before the heated drying cycle has finished - steams your glasses, etc - that's how I would compare it to the east coast (or Houston, etc).

June is when you experience the hottest 'dry heat' - 100F and 5% humidity, clear blue skies, relentless sunshine. Fabulous evenings for outside dining - no bugs, etc. By now (early July) the humidity is rising, it's getting cloudy, and big-ass storms are on the menu. The storms can be spectacular - a feast for the eyes - and the rain is wonderful, as Noorah says - but overall, it gets 'heavy', and you can't wait for September. Luckily, as a 'modern' city, it's built for the heat and you can find A/C everywhere (even at the ballpark - I just got back from a wonderful evening at Chase Field, where I was a little on the cold side ...)

Most residents who can afford it head out of town during the summer months. Sedona is way nicer than Flagstaff, especially for visitors. I personally also like taking a trip to Show Low - a gorgeous drive through a Canyon - but it's a long haul. You can also get to the Grand Canyon in about 3.5 hours; its typically 20 degrees cooler than Phoenix (but hotels hard to come by on short notice).

Phoenix itself can be ugly. The 'downtown' is pitiful, as downtown's go. Scottsdale is, in my opinion, a gorgeous town, and has a decent downtown and great restaurants.

Going to the Phoenix metro area for the first time in July would be like visiting a long lost relative who had a severe case of the flu for the first time ... you just aren't going to get a good impression. What makes the Phoenix metro "work" is that you have fantastic weather from October through May.

Captain Cheesestick

Cheers all.

So are the bugs bad then? I only ask because for a large swathe of summer walking from the car to the house here results in umpteen black fly bites and a frightening number mosquitoes molesting you.

Michael

No the weather is too hot and dry for flies and mosies but the bigger creatures (scorpions, rattlers, etc.) are out in droves.

Noorah101

But, unless you live near the foothills somewhere (like South Mountain, maybe), you only see scorpions and snakes when out hiking in the more deserty locations. You don't normally see them in the city.

The only time I ran across a really yukky bug problem was one evening after a rain shower...walking in a park in downtown Scottsdale....the big ugly sewer roaches were out in masses. YUK.

Rene