Tourists arrive in Phoenix amid extreme heat
PHOENIX (NBC, KYMA) - Much of the Southwest is sweltering under extreme heat this week, but that doesn't stop tourists from traveling to Phoenix.
In Phoenix, where the average this time of year is in the 80s, temperatures are reaching more than 100 degrees.
Jenny and Ben Hallemeier flew in from St. Louis for their spring break tradition with their kids Harry and Lottie in tow.
"We debated coming, but we're just gonna spend the whole weekend in the pool," Jenny shared.
Because despite the record heat, the parking lots are still full and the planes aren't empty.
"The plane was full. Not a single seat open. People still want to get to better weather...it was cold in St. Louis and we were ready for sunshine," Jenny declared.
"It was 19 degrees when we left, so I'll take it," Ben added.
"We should be seeing highs in the 80s instead we're talking 20 to 25 degrees above normal, getting into the 100s," said Sean Benedict, the lead meteorologist with the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix.
The official temps are recorded at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, a standard in place since 1953, and extreme heat has grounded flights before.
In 1990, Phoenix hit a record 122 degrees pilots weren't confident planes could perform in those conditions.
Benedict says we're nowhere near that, but warns it's worth knowing as summer approaches.
"When you get up into that 110-plus range, it gets harder for planes to take off with full weight. A lot of times they'll use the north runway at Sky Harbor for that extra length to get off the ground," Benedict shared.
As for the Hallemeiers? They're not sweating it, with Jenny saying, "It's just a little escape. We'll melt by the pool with an Icee."
According to NWS Phoenix, Sky Harbor recorded a high of 102 degrees Wednesday, which surpassed the previous earlier 100-degree record of March 26, 1988, by more than a week.
