Arizona climatologist on heat and monsoon season

PHOENIX, Ariz. (CBS, KYMA/KECY) - Arizona climatologist Dr. Erinanne Saffell has worked for the state for the past two years.

She says the state has been measuring temperatures in Phoenix since about 1895, and during that time, on average, there were about five days every year where Phoenix was 110 degrees or hotter.

This year, Saffell says, so far, we're at 22 days at or above 110. But she says high temperatures are the first thing needed for monsoon storms to pop off.

"So it gets really, really hot under that ridge of hot pressure or heat dome. There is a circulation around that high pressure that moves in a clockwise manner, and what that can do is pull moisture into Arizona, from the Sea of Cortez or the Gulf of Mexico, bringing that moisture in. As it comes into Arizona, that can trigger our thunderstorms," Saffell detailed.

Although she expects we'll break the 18 day streak record, Saffell also expects thunderstorms will soon bring relief.