Phoenix Experiences Warmest February and Winter on Record

[donsutherland1]

Phoenix experienced its warmest February on record with a monthly mean temperature of 67.7°. That broke the prior record of 66.0°, which was set in 1991 and tied just last year.

 

Powered by the warmest December and February on record, Phoenix experienced its warmest winter on record, by far. Its winter mean temperature of 63.9° was similar to a typical winter in Melbourne, FL. Its seasonal mean temperature also exceeded the figure from March-May 1917.

Table 6: Winter and Spring Mean Temperatures:

 

 

 

[donsutherland1]

For what it's worth, it appears that global temperatures explain a larger share of Phoenix's (and perhaps the Southwest's) annual temperature variance than they do for such cities as New York.

[Stormchaserchuck1]

Records just keep dropping in PHX, does it have the greatest rate of warming in the world, of major cities? 

[Typhoon Tip]

It's almost like there is built in synergistic feed-back now, anywhere outside of direct polar sourced modulation/forcing on Earth.  

Where ever there is warm look to an outlook, relative to region, ... it seems to become historic more commonly than not.  Regardless of where. 

The aspect ( Meteorologically...) that enhances that prospect for PHX most likely has to do with the perennial flow across N/A, which features a flat ridge over the continental cordillera, tending to nadir as a flat trough exiting the east.  PHX, and surrounding of the S/W - which by the way has just registered the warmest winter ever from Canada to Mexico, reside within that flat ridge.  That supplies a perpetual positive/constructive resonance potential at all times.  It's not major... but, when we are dealing with synergy, the whole product after smaller additive forcing, tends to be larger than amount of the individual addition.  You add 1 to 10 ... you get 12 so to speak. 

In other words, this gives them a bit of an advantage.  There may be some urban expansion feed backs as well - I haven't heard/read of any studies that use scientifically discipline in conjunction with mathematics which quantifies how much. Not beyond speculation.  It's likely fractionally playing a role but cannot atone for the whole occurrences.

Nor does that diminish the significance of the record breaking occurrences, nor the standard elevated mean temperatures - in fact, .. it substantiates "why" that is happening.  Particularly when considering how well that fits in with the planet as a whole, where warm events are consummately over performing above leading predictive indicators/methods.

[donsutherland1]

For a further illustration of how remarkable the warmth has been in recent years, seven months have now seen their highest average temperature set since 2020. So far, no records have been set in any of the spring months. However, there is a chance that could change this month. With its sizzling start and possible near-record/record heat next week, 2026 is very likely to finish among the 10 warmest years on record in March. A new record is possible should the predominant winter pattern persist through much of the month.