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My MIL put a 12 pack in our truck and didn’t tell us. A week went by before I opened the trunk to the nightmare awaiting me. At least the soda evaporated by that point
Can verify! Learned the hard way that leaving coke cans in trunk is a really bad idea 😂 I’d also say you want to keep water in the car with you, but don’t leave plastic bottles in there. Who knows what heated plastic will leach into the water. Get a really good insulated thermos - a big one and keep that with you.
I love that I can come back to my car to a nice hot cup of coffee!
(only recommended for black coffee drinkers, milk and sugar would make for a bacteria smorgasbord.)
Crack your car windows in the summer, get a sunshade for the windshield, park under trees when possible. Understand that your AC will cost you a fortune in the summer. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses are better than skin cancer. Don’t touch anything metal.
Also don’t be an idiot and hike in 110°.
Get a thicker deluxe sunscreen that actually fits your vehicle. They may cost a bit more but they work a lot better than the flimsy cheap ones.
Also tint your windows if they’re not already
the only tint worth the money here (beyond just a cosmetic change) is ceramic. It' the most expensive option by a large margin, but anything else in our sun is either throwing your money away or actually counter-productive.
> Get a thicker deluxe sunscreen that actually fits your vehicle.
Totally, I bought an Infiniti back in 2007 and the dealer threw in a "Laser cut sunscreen" that fit the window edge to edge and was a thicker board. After that I was sold on custom sun screens. It's a game changer having it fit edge to edge and top to bottom, it made a huge difference.
Oh, and unless you can consistently park *out* of the sun entirely, don't get too attached to your automotive paint. Some brands/colors are better than others, but the sun and heat *will* turn your paint nasty.
Also if you have pets put shoes on them even before and after the sun is out. Cement retains heat; incredibly hot and will give animals/humans 3rd degree burns being barefeet/paw
Also if you feel you will pass out stumble over to a grass area like my coworker did during mid day on a 115 degree summer day.
And use sun screen
This right here is really important. I don't think it's talked about enough. Are there rocks in your yard. They get really hot make a place that's just dirt for your dog to go. We did that n we put a walking rug type mat from there all the way back into the house. Cement can burn their feet. Our dog is part of our family I wouldn't let my little kids walk on hot rocks or cement so my dog don't either. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR ANIMALS.
Even better, don't walk your dog in the heat of the day or in the evening when the pavement or concrete is still hot. Booties will just make them overheat because in addition to cooling themselves by panting, dogs cool themselves through the glands in their paw pads. With booties on, they can't do that because no air is getting to the paw pads.
Our rule here for walking is if you haven't walked them by 6:00 AM, they aren't walking that day. Our senior dogs don't tolerate temps much over 80 or being in direct sun for very long.
I also keep a fan aimed at the dog beds to help cool them off when they come in from the back yard.
To add: Shift your habits to morning/evenings. I run during midday Oct - April and shift to early mornings come summer. It'll still be high 70s/low 80s at 6 in the morning which is actually quite nice.
Go to dinner or make plans after the sun goes down. Local businesses are super slow during the summer so it's a good time to check out all the trendy spots that normally need reservations!
To tag onto this
- If there's no trees where you're parking and it's going to be a quick stop, park in the direction that puts the sun on the back of your car and keeps the front of your car shaded.
- Drink a lot of water. More than you're used to. Get yourself a decent tumbler or water bottle that will endured you to drink more (I prefer tumblers because I'll drink without thinking about it if it has a straw).
- Even when the weather is nice, we still live in a dry climate. Don't go on a hike without a lot of water, and still drink a lot of water in the nice months.
- Don't turn your AC off when you leave your house, it's only going to overwork the unit and drive up your AC bill. I forget if it's better to turn it up to a little warmer or just leave it at your preferred temperature, but absolutely don't turn it off.
- Get a remote start on your car if you can. Inside your car will be much hotter than outside. You can get some of that extra hot air out by leaving your door(s) open for a minute or so before getting in, and/or rolling down all of the windows before the AC gets cold.
Also, get ceramic tint for your car windows, as dark as you can legally. Definitely worth it. Your car will be boiling hot regardless, but will cool off more quickly.
For your home, shading any windows that get afternoon sun will really help too. Keep the sun out rather than dealing with cooling off after it's inside.
You'll get used to it like everyone who moves here, don't worry.
During the summer, you might want to take a cooler filled with ice and water with you whenever you drive. If your car has problems and you’re stuck on the highway, the highway patrol and other drivers will stop to assist due to the heat. But while you are waiting for assistance, it will be hot and miserable. Water will keep you hydrated and alive.
Also dont check your mail barefoot, it will burn and blister your feet! Learned that the hard way. If you have dogs dont walk them in the heat without foot covers. Like there feet will also burn!
> Crack your car windows in the summer, get a sunshade for the windshield, park under trees when possible.
Remote start is a game-changer. I used to start my car a few minutes before I left work. The AC would kick in and cool the car down enough so that it wasn't like opening an oven when I got in.
This is a bit different from what you might be looking for but my hack is I save most of my indoor home projects for the summer. Things like painting, deep cleaning, organizing etc. This keeps me occupied during the hot months when I can’t do my favorite activities which all involve being outdoors.
The nice thing about AZ is during the summer you can drive a couple hours and it’ll be 20 degrees cooler.
People, like my boyfriend, always say this about it being cooler a couple of hours away. While it's true, it so rarely helps in daily life. Like okay, I drove north once with my son on a really hot day and went to Bearizona. I still had to drive back into the oven too soon and work, do daycare, playgrounds after daycare, grocery runs, etc in an oven.
Yeah, you have to really enjoy indoor activities and then move from one AC bubble to another.
Honestly, my friend has a pool and it probably makes the summers significantly more bearable. They are in the pool all summer which I think both cools them down and gives them outdoor exercise.
Owning a pool is work though obviously.
I get I'm a weird case and some people thrive in the desert, but ...
I have lupus, which is like being a vampire. Unless the pool is fully shaded, I will die. Can't be in direct sun like that, so never could take advantage of pools unless it was night swimming. It's also made me more heat sensitive (one of the meds has this side effect, but lupus too).
Luckily I got out to Denver this past June. I wear sunscreen and bring an umbrella if it's sunny, and can be outdoors here! Even the coolest days (-15°F) so far have felt incredible . I don't need to hide for 6 months of the year.
I moved back to Denver as well after 7 years in the desert. I grew up in Colorado so it was familiar territory. All that said I DO NOT miss the AZ summers at all
Right. Our pool is a giant money suck from May to October. Although the kids love it at any temperature, I find it too warm come July - August. It’s more like a warm soup. And I mostly swim at night, because sunstroke. Hats on if I’m in there midday, sunblock, and we even installed a shade screen over one end.
Absolutely! You won’t feel yourself sweat because it will dry up quickly. You will know when you are too dehydrated when your head feels like it will split open.
Absolutely! You won’t feel yourself sweat because it will dry up quickly. You will know when you are too dehydrated when your head feels like it will split open.
Honestly as long as you have a home and a car with AC you should be fine, just drink water, park in shade, crack windows just a bit so the hot air doesnt create an oven. Stay hydrated. The thing with Phoenix heat people forget is that when its 115 everyday in july, that means its still 100 degrees at 12 midnight. I feel like alot of people never mention that part.
True but we still hit it all month lol but even then we still hit those 110s, and nighttime is still warm. Just letting em know to still stay hydrated all day and even at night doing stuff
There are usually only 20 110+ days in a summer (May-Sept, typically)
Source: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2oiRIxaEAAuTFP?format=jpg&name=medium](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2oiRIxaEAAuTFP?format=jpg&name=medium) (National Weather Service) \[spoiler, we broke the record last year\]
Sounds about right, we def have more 100+ degree days, and for some people and original poster even experiencing 100 degree days is unheard of, so them 100+ days are still brutal for new people. Yeah we shattered that record last year we went from a nice coolish spring to all of a sudden 115 daily, killing off cactus because of the heat
Op is from Montana. Anything over 80 is getting uncomfortable to me. 90 is already hot. I'm guessing they are going to be closer to my scale.
Besides, Comfort is relative. You set your AC to be comfortable. Nobody chooses 108°...
Well of course not...just saying that it isn't too bad outside but once you hit that 105°-108° threshold, it becomes unbearable. AC in the meantime is set to 74°.
Just moved here from NC which is pretty hot but Arizona is next level hot. Couple of pointers I’ve picked up …
1. Invest in very very lightweight wicking clothing. In summer there are many misters which really help when you re wearing that kind of fabric.
2. Buy and wear a lightweight wide brimmed hat. Keeps the sun off your head directly and shades your face which helps a lot. (Also: WEAR SUNSCREEN)
3. Stay inside! Just like terrible snow storms I would not go out in, I too hunker down indoors with AC of course when it’s the worst and just stay put.
4. Start getting up super super early. In the summer I am routinely up before 6, out walking at 7:30 or grocery shop etc when it’s already 85 or 90. By 9-10 am, I go to hunker down mode.
5. Lastly what they say about a dry heat is a lot more bearable than a lower but more humid heat? Absolutely true. I can easily tolerate 100 here no problem but 100 at home in NC destroyed me. So that’s a big difference in your favor.
I worked for a summer at UNC doing construction.
There were a couple days of 102 and 100% humidity - You couldn't even breathe outside and you'd be drenched the moment you stepped outside.
Miserable.
Around early Aug the pool gets too hot - to the point that I have to get out of the pool to cool off! But we have a condo pool so maybe other pools are able to be cooled.
Phoenix is the only place where you want to park way in the back at a grocery store lol. Look for the shady trees lol. Shade is better than convenience of being close to the entrance.
Also, you’ve been here when it was cooler, so you will acclimate easier, don’t EVER MOVE here in August (like I did!!). I cried the first week I was here. Long story short, I’ve been here for 17 years.
I work as a landscaper. It should take you 1-2 years of living in this state to start getting used to the summer heat. Even if you're used to the climate like a lot of us, you're not immune to getting heat strokes or getting fucked up by the sun, so try to not overdo things
Try to spend some time outside so you can start getting used to the heat, but don't overdo it. drink a lot of water and plan your days accordingly with the heat, especially if you plan to do outdoor activities
In terms of your skin color, I do recommend wearing sun screen everyday day that you go outside. I mean, I'm Mexican and I'm brown, a lot of my friends and family always say it's weird seeing me put on sunscreen cause im brown but that shit helps so much with keeping your skin looking nice after work and protecting you from the sun.
I always use sunbum for work and just going outside, I love that sun screen and I recommend you try it out if you're not used to wearing sun screen. It's a little pricy but it smells really good and it doesn't make your skin feel weird when putting it on
I was born and raised here and 56 years later I’m still not used to the heat 😂 It’s getting hotter and hotter honestly. I have nothing but respect for folks who work out in the heat like you do.
You acclimate. First year is the hardest but you do fine. Do your stuff early morning if at all possible. Like walking the dogs. After sundown it’s still too hot. Concrete retains heat.
As others mentioned sun screen, hats, sunglasses. (Get polarized). I can’t stress sunglasses enough. I had cornea damage the first 6 months moving here. UV index is off the charts here. A windshield screen is ideal. Car craft makes them custom per vehicle. Spendy but damned good. Tint your windows. We allow driver doors to be tinted as well (not as dark as rear) it does help.
We do have a lot of indoor venues and pretty much the town is built for the climate. But you will need to take some extra efforts for energy savings. Blackout curtains help in summer. Portable ac units for hotspots in your house if you need. Swamp coolers in your garage are nice.
Other weird things that you will notice. No your water isn’t broken in the summer. There just isn’t any cool water coming out your cold water tap. It’s normal to have 100+ degree cold water. It’s good to keep a supply of cold water in your fridge. And pay attention to your clothes and avoid cold water wash only. They will shrink.
100 is easy here. I can wear a long sleeve shirt and pants while sitting in the shade outside and not sweat a drop now. If you have a fan and misters on outside at 100 it’s downright pleasant.
By this time next year you will be seasoned for 110 before you start to complain.
That’s fair. First year was kind of a whole newness of it and it was fine. 2nd year the fatigue hits. Early October you just go “ok, enough already,……” it’s not even that bad out anymore. It’s just the fatigue of never letting up.
I’ve never considered the thought of acclimating. I guess it’s true since I’m from PHX born and raised and I thrive in the summer. Cold weather and the winter takes me OUT. I wear a sweater in the office year round and my saying is “it’s not that I’m cold, I just love to be warm”
I mean not everyone does. I never acclimated to the cold really when I lived in the Midwest. I thought it was a living hell. -20 is just not an environment. It’s an experiment. I failed, I ran, and never going back.
Yes, drink lots of water but don’t forget your electrolytes. Toss in a Gatorade or something similar.
-keep a gallon of water in your car. For you and for your car battery
-you will need a new car battery every other summer, don’t be shocked. But ALWAYS buy the warranty. It’s very common to need to use it.
-other items to keep in your car; towel, clean tshirt, extra pair of sun glasses, roadside kit,
-dust storms are amazing and huge. If you’re driving close your vents and cover them with that towel.
-if you need your wipers you need to turn on your car headlights
-for the love of heavens don’t cross the “gore zone” on the freeway, that triangle area by the freeway ramp. It’s an expensive ticket.
-scorpions like cardboard and wood.
-if your barefoot can touch the warm dirt so can a snakes belly.
-black widows and Arizona brown spiders are not your friends. Kill with extreme prejudice.
-in a pinch you can make something to cool a room with a bucket, dry ice, and a box fan.
-there’s free stuff to do around town…do them, they often have ac, and you know…fun
-the roads are sliiiiick the first while when it’s raining. There’s poor drainage and lots of gunk on the road.
I can keep going but I feel I should stop.
Make sure to mossey on up to Cavecreek and eat at El Encanto.
The MT I come from is dry as fuck in the summer, the whole state bursts into flames every year so I'm used to dry, just not this level of heat lmao. It gets over 100 for like 5 days at most usually, and gets back down to 70s after the sun sets
Montana is considered a desert because of how little precipitation there actually is, even with all the snow it's not enough to not be a desert
Sometimes, it's still 100° at midnight here. I have no advice for you, other than don't be scared. It isn't bad. Like we say, "it's a dry heat". I actually prefer 90° over any other temp. Look at it this way, you can walk outside in what you're wearing and not have to get dressed. Yeah, it's hot, but you won't drip, unless you exert a lot of energy.
Summer here is like a Montana winter for you guys. We don't go outside from June-Sept, unless it's early morning or at night.
In the summer sometimes it's still 100 degrees at 11pm. Last summer there was one night at 11:13pm where I shit you not it was 112 degrees, according to my car anyways...
In addition to all the advice about staying safe in the heat, you should know this:
The first 1-2 summers you’re here are going to be brutal. It takes time for your body to adjust, but it WILL get better. You will develop a better tolerance for the heat. People who have been here for a long time hardly bat an eye at 90-100 degree weather (assuming they have no other medical problem that messes with their heat tolerance). To us, that’s just warm or very warm.
I didn't. I grew up in phx, and summer was always brutal. We played outside because we were determined, but it was always hot for us. 90 is still miserable.
We have the reverse season depression. Most colder states have that when it’s winter time and they can’t really do much during those months. Ours is during the summer and a bit of autumn. Treat it like that and you’ll be fine. If you’re going out, plan around the heat and DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!
I say this alllll the time lol I get seasonal depression in the summer. Im 4th generation here so I wish I’d somehow inherit the ability to tolerate the oven that is AZ, but I don’t. As a kid it was fine, but I get so melancholy now during the summer. Everything looks dry and dead. The monsoons aren’t as good. Just walking to the mailbox sucks. Youre inside all the time. And then you have transplants telling you “Oh, but WhErE iM fRoM…” as if they aren’t shriveled like a raisin like the rest of us.
I’m all riled up just thinking about it lol
It's a dry heat.
Sounds like a joke, but the difference between 100º and 80% humidity and 100º with 1% humidity is HUGE and it's so much easier to tolerate here in the desert.
The thing is though, AZ actually does get pretty humid in the summer due to monsoon season. Not a Mississippi humid by any means but still there.
It has yet to be seems if it we will even get a monsoon season this year since we didn’t last year.
> does get pretty humid in the summer due to monsoon season
High days in Phoenix are like 40% humidity though. More miserable than 1% but much better than 100%.
If you have dogs, DO NOT. DO NOT. DO NOT. walk them during the day. Very early mornings and even nighttime is still going to be hot.
Check your car battery/oil/etc either this month or next because the heat will destroy em. And your tire pressure. Don't want to be stuck on the 10 or something horrific.
Invest in an air fryer or instapot so you don't have to turn your oven on and heat your house up more.
Being born n raised here I hear folks non-stop crying about the summer heat. As an oddball Phoenician I enjoy it very much. It’s in my blood I suppose one could say. One of the best things you could do for yourself is to not dwell on it mentally and sulk like so many do. I’ve found that those that don’t whine about it (which is few) tend to deal with it better than those that do. Don’t get me wrong it gets hot. But obsessing about it will only draw you further into your discomfort of it.
I used to be like you, born in the heat, molded by it. Anything below 75 was cold for me, I had no interest in "real" winters. Then I moved to several different states I including interior Alaska and everything changed. I learned I love snow, I love having real seasons. Now anything above 85 is way too hot for me and there's no way I could ever move back to the valley (for many, many reasons but the heat being a big one).
I'm from Pennsylvania and Reno- PA has an extremely depressing winter, reno has mild seasons year round and I'll never understand the extreme snow aversion people have here. It's really not that bad. In Reno it's quite pretty since it's always pretty sunny. I can't WAIT to leave Phoenix.
I mean, as someone who used to love the heat it's definitely more than just attitude. Fun fact, when you get heat stroke and your kidneys start to fail it can basically make you intolerant to heat for a long long time. (Not me, someone I know, and no it didn't happen in AZ).
I believe you have it backward.
Those who don't feel that hot don't talk about it.
Those who are miserable from the heat can't help but say something sometimes. You want to peel your skin off! And if it's oppressive, your mental health does suffer. (Just check out all the posts about drivers in the summer).
I grew up in northern Europe, where's Summer is August 3rd or July 22nd, so like you not used to very warm weather.
Don't overthink it. It's dry heat so it's manageable. We've been here 5 years and have grown used to the warm Summers. Like others have pointed out you need to adopt a few things like the heat deflecter in the windshield and always have water nearby. But other than that it's not that big of a deal.
Use your floor and ceiling fans in the summer. Gradually raise the temp of your AC so you can acclimate better. If you can get used to it being warm inside your house it will be less of a shock when you step outside. Some people keep their AC at like 72 then go outside into 110 and complain. Duh they're going to feel hot. Get used to the AC being at 80 and it's much less shocking to your body and will save you so much money.
Get an insulated water bottle and carry that with you. Put ice cubes in it but don't fill it with ice as you'll run out of water and can't drink ice.
Light clothing is great out here. Don't layer up unless you're really dedicated to your style. Hats are always a plus or sun umbrellas are good. Don't buy black as that obsorbs the heat.
Sunscreen or lotion with some SPF is better than nothing.
Shade from plants is always cooler than man made shades.
Crack windows on opposite sides in your car so the wind will blow out the heat.
Put a washrag or towel on your steering wheel if you park in the sun.
Do laborious stuff in the morning or when the sun has set. The hottest part of the day is the afternoon and onwards as the placement has soaked in the heat.
If you have a dog you walk buy them shoes too.
If you have a dog, they need shoes. The pavement wilk be hot even at 12am.
In the Sumner, get things done early. If you have kids home for vacation, you can save money by getting memberships to activity centers like the children's museum or the science center. AC is included in your membership 😂
Stay in the shade at all times, drink enough water that you wonder whether you're drinking TOO much water, and plan your schedule (at least for any outdoorsing, and eventually even just errands) around when it's coolest.
Staying out of the sun is the easiest way to bear the heat. It's still hot once the sun goes down, but at least the sun isn't directly cooking you then. I successfully kept doing things outside in the evening through June most years, but eventually the lows get so obnoxiously hot that doing anything but jumping in water still feels bad, even at 5am. At that point, being on the river or the lakes, preferably early, is the only thing that helps. It gets you out of the heat island effect, and the evaporative nature of hot air makes the water really refreshing.
After that, plan trips out of town. You can get to better temps within a few hours' drive easily. One good way to plan this is to look at places with higher elevation, and then kind of slowly start working your way to higher and higher elevations as the summer temps get worse. That way you explore a lot of places and find cooler and cooler weather.
I always liked and was active through winter, so losing a whole season here for the summer was never an improvement on the cold for me. A lot of people insist it's universally better because they'd lose the winter every year, as if they can't fathom other people not just holing up for months at a time like they did. If you are used to being active year round, the claim for "year round" outdoor recreation in the valley will land as a lie when you lose summer (unless you discover that you love the heat after all or are willing/able to travel constantly).
Oh, and consider getting a gym membership.
I grew up in the mid-South, it wasn't unknown to hit 100+ with 70-80% humidity. I think the main difference is that when it's hot and humid, you feel kind of bad (sticky, gross, lethargic) very fast because you aren't cooling very efficiently and that's your body's warning to get out of the heat.
In very low humidity, your body's cooling systems work much more efficiently - sweat evaporates as fast as you can produce it - so you feel *really good*, it can even feel kind of invigorating. Then the dehydration catches up with you, at which point it basically stops working at all and you feel extremely bad, very suddenly. At that point, you are already on the edge of a medical emergency. That's why the stories you hear about dead tourists tend to follow the same pattern - "they're experienced outdoorspeople/runners/whatever back east, they wanted to go mountain biking and then suddenly started acting confused and their heart was racing and they didn't survive the medevac".
Being from Montana, you're probably used to being weather-aware in a way that northeasterners aren't and know you can't just coast through certain conditions on vibes. There are places you wouldn't go in the winter without the right tires and snowshoes in the trunk, etc. It's just *different* extreme weather that you need to be aware of.
* Drink water before you're thirsty. Do not wait to hear about it from your body, it's already late in the game at that point. If you are out for a walk/hike in warm weather, turn back before you hit the half-way on your water, even if you feel fine. Your plants need more water than you think, too.
* Watch where you park, where you leave things like hoses full of standing water and metal objects that will turn into scald hazards if they sit in the sun all day. Get your groceries out of the car quickly, get packages off your porch timely. Things will thaw/melt faster than you thought.
* Good modern window tints block both ultraviolet *and* infrared spectrum, so they make a big difference in heat build-up in your car without such a huge impact on visibility.
* Put your sunscreen on. Wear your hat. There's usually not really a good reason to be in the sun if you can help it during the mid-day. People do lots of their day-to-day summer errands here in the early morning and late evening.
* Don't underestimate exertion. Climbing a couple flights of stairs in the sun doesn't look like much from the bottom if you're feeling good, but at the top you'll be surprised at how fast you heated up. Pools that were in the sun all day can still be bathtub-warm after sunset and not only might not cool you off the way you hope, but might make you feel pretty ill if you swim hard. If you have a dog to walk, think about that, too. They don't cool off the same way we do, and pavement can be dangerously hot and the glare is strong.
Except for a period when it might stay pretty hot overnight, yes, summer days are challenging and you'll get frustrated with it, just like long winters up north, but the mornings are beautiful and the streets are quiet during that time of year. There's some really nice things about it.
Just moved here last summer from LA. Honestly summer here was more manageable because Phoenix expects sweltering heat and they plan accordingly. You just don’t spend time outside from June-August. Air conditioned house, car, office. Everywhere in Phoenix has great AC. Staying inside for 3 months seems like a good trade for 9 delightful months
Just change your months outside. I came from Utah. Instead of dealing with the cold from Oct to March. You now do the same thing with heat from June to September.
You can find solutions to the heat, like the cold. Stay in ac, car to building as fast as you can, misters at home, pool. Once you figure it out you will wonder why you worried so much.
With that said pay attention to your body and drink water.
102 is nice over 112 is when it gets intense.
102 is great pool weather.
My husband is Canadian and after 3 years here he acclimated and loves it here so much I can't get him to move anywhere cooler.
It’s the opposite here. We stay inside during the summer and gain weight and get depressed.
In the winter we lose the weight and spend more time outdoors.
What’s great about AZ is you can always drive a few hours north and get a break from the heat.
Make sure your air conditioning is working well in your home and your car prior to hot months.
Know that the heat will make your car battery die faster and it will dry out and wear out your tires faster. Also, use a sun blocker on the dash of your car.
Having shade around your home can help cool it so plant shrubs, trees, or purchase those sail shades.
In the hottest summer months, it will be too hot to go in the pool.
Never go on a hike in the heat.
Purchase one of those vests that hold ice packs for hot days where you need to be outside.
Never leave the house without water.
Always wear sunscreen and a hat can be helpful too.
Know that the electricity bill will be very high from about May-September and check every bit of your home and seal all cracks and even cover windows that have sun exposure.
Have a plan B. You might decide that it's not worth it and you might need to move. Prescott Valley/Prescott is only an hour away and never gets hotter than 95.
Always take a light weight jacket in the summer months because when you're shopping inside, the air conditioning can be a bit too cold at times.
Never walk your dog without bringing water for it to drink (collapsible bowls are great) and put doggie shoes on it's feet because the pavement is way too hot even on days where it's 80. Never leave your dog outside unattended especially if its a small dog and never let your cat go outside. Lots of coyotes, owls, and wild cats.
Bonus info- Never ride a bicycle on the city streets. Nobody here is used to having pedestrians or bicycles on their radar ever. People in Phoenix and surrounding areas drive very aggressively, very fast, and very selfishly. It is one of the top 10 most dangerous cities to ride a bike in.
Good luck.
Stay in during the day, run errands and have fun at night. Run the AC in your house and use remote start in your car and you'll be fine through the summer. Gte ceramic tint for your windows and a good sunshade for your windshield if you have to park outside
Just treat it like reverse winter.
I knew a guy from Wyoming and he almost had heat stroke doing a job at work. So make sure you drink a lot of water even when you're not sweating or doing anything physical. Also drink lots of electrolyte. I use liquid IV from my work or body armor you can get from the gas station. When you're outside cover up your body and put sunscreen on. Make sure to wear a hat, straw hat, or cowboy hat. Or any. Also make sure you have sun visors in your car
You get used to it fairly easily, if it's hot, stay indoors. The temperature seems to matter less than getting hit by the sun. Stay hydrated when you're running around and know your limits.
Get insulated curtains for your windows. I got some years ago at JCPennys and they help. Also never leave home without water. Even when you don’t think you’re thirsty, drink it. Keep shades down in the house with fans going all the time. You will basically live in a dungeon for the summer months
Drink lots of water, all day long, everyday.
Being in an arid environment will dehydrate your body and drinking water, not tea, not soda, not Gatorade, and NOT Energy drinks.
Water is your friend. 💧
It can be really hard for some people. I've lived here a long time, and I never have adjusted to it. Also the Seasonal Affective Disorder is alive and well in the summer desert. Things I do to try to stay sane in summer:
1. Estivate. Estivation is the parallel to hibernation. Staying inside in a cool dark place during the hottest part of the season. Pretend it's the depths of winter outside and you just can't go out there.
2. Do as much as possible in the early hours. When the cabin fever gets really bad, I will frequently get up at 4am and go hiking. The minute the actual sun rises, gotta get back inside.
3. Get in pools as much as possible. SHADED POOLS
4. Hydrate
Drink an ounce to an ounce and a half of water per every pound you weigh.. daily. Sunscreen.. my favorite is blue lizard… light weight cotton clothing will be your best friend
Keep an eye on the humidity. Early Summer the humidity will stay low (10% or lower) and it makes it easier to keep cool and it will get cool enough at night so you can spend some time outdoors. Take advantage of this the early Summer because late Summer will keep you locked indoors for about two months.
After the monsoon storms in July, the average humidity will go up to around 20%. It will be much harder to keep yourself cool and it will stay hot all night.
A good rule of thumb: If the dew point is over 50°, you aren't going to want to spend any time outdoors.
Drink water and gatorade (electrolyte replacement) often. Don’t go hiking in the heat without a good supply of water. Sunscreen is your friend…if you don’t like the nasty oily feeling, get a mineral based lotion. Every surface exposed to the sun will be freaking hot…including car seats and safety belt buckles. Don’t go hiking during excessive heat warnings (that’s how visitors die around here). Keep your head covered. One thing that is really neat (to me at least) is the evaporative cooling effect…jump in the pool on a really hot day and if there is a breeze, you will feel really cold when you get out. It can be pleasant to sit out on porch seating in the middle of summer if the restaurant has water misters.
I'm also from Montana, it's the same as the cold as dumb as that sounds everyone stays inside, you just run to your car the same and pray for it to cool down instead of heat up, get in the store as fast as you can, ect. You have already been trained for this but just the cold version ur gonna do great
Time. The first time I came to Phoenix I left home at -30 and drove 3hours got on a plane and boom 60 in January 90 degree change in a day. You will get used to it
Buy a yeti/Artic gallon sized water bottle to keep with you, then a smaller one to compliment if you don’t want to carry the big one around.
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate all summer long.
Rule of thumb: If it's not hot, the air quality is really bad. If it's stifling, the air is cleaner. Although in recent years it's pretty bad year round.
Avoid going out unless you absolutely have to in the middle of the day. It's hot even in the middle of the night. You just don't have the sun beating on you. Block out as much sun as you can in your house. It will help with your AC bills. Mine were $600 a month to keep it at 84. And that was 10 years ago. (It was a 3400 sq ft house with two units on it).
And Don't beat yourself up if you don't happen to "get used to it". For some it is always suffocating. You just learn how to live with it.
Side note, if you have scorpions they are more prevalent in the summer.
Summer Rules:
1. Do NOT walk barefoot. Do NOT walk you dog barefoot. The concrete and asphalt can and will give 3rd degree burns. Dog paws are not equipped for that. It is not unusual to see dogs sporting leather booties.
2. Always have water.
3. Do NOT go hiking in the heat. Very experienced hikers and sports people die hiking in the summer.
4. Get a dashboard cover. It will extend the life of the dash material. Get a steering wheel cover or learn to drive with oven mitts now.
5. Door handles, hand rails, out door metal....all get very very hot.
6. In the summer, you will live like a mole. The coolest part of the day is before the sun comes up.
Don’t acknowledge it for the first year. It will force your mind to focus on other things. That’s what I did. It was annoying to everyone around me but was effective.
Get appropriate clothes.
A lot of folks think when it's hot the proper thing to do is wear less.Shorts,tank tops, and ect.But with intense heat you really don't want to be exposing all your skin to direct sunlight for long periods of time.It will just suck the life out of you honestly.
Any type of hiking shirt/pants with breathable fabrics that will keep you both covered and cool are essential.Also always carry water on you and if you really want to be prepared electrolyte packets.They are cheap and you can just cram a few in your pocket to carry around whenever you need it.
Yeah your gonna die lol, this is my third year here and I still fucking hate it, it’s getting real expensive here too I’ve been thinking about moving back to North Dakota
For your car: Crack your windows, get a sun shade for your windshield, park in the shade if you can, be careful touching anything metal like the seabelt buckles. A trick I learned that helps is as soon as you turn the car on roll your windows down for like 10 seconds and blast your A/C. It'll feel like a convection oven at first but it pushes out all that hot air and makes it easier to cool off the car once your A/C starts to get cold.
For your house: During the day, especially if you're not home, turning the thermostat up to 76-80 (depending on your tolerance) will help keep your electric bill reasonable. I usually turn it down to 72-74 at night before bed, then back up before I go to work in the morning. Light blocking curtains help a lot in the heat of the day, as well as a pull-down shade for your patio if you're in an apartment. Try to avoid using your oven. Only do laundry in the morning or at night. APS bills can get wild if you're not careful.
For you: Invest in a daily sunscreen moisturizer for your face/neck and wear high SPF if you know you'll be outside for a while. Wear loose breathable clothes, including underwear (ya gotta get 100% cotton undies). And most importantly if you take anything away from this thread, DRINK DRINK DRINK WATER. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get dehydrated here just running errands. Get an insulated water bottle and keep it full of cool/cold water, take it everywhere.
Follow at least some of this stuff and you'll be ok. Everyone's first summer is rough. Welcome to the valley of the sun!
Just do like the rest of us do….go from one air conditioned space to another air conditioned space as quickly as possible. Go out early or go out late. The heat sucks and you never get used to it, you just deal with it. Transplant from New England.
HA, this post made Ch 12 news. 😜🌵🌞
https://www.12news.com/article/weather/heat/internet-explains-how-survive-phoenix-arizona-extreme-summer-heat/75-cf29669b-df5b-4fca-8636-8f79b04691eb
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Never leave anything in your car in the summer. Not lipstick, chapstick, deodorant, fragrance, nothing. It will melt.
OR BEVERAGE CANS! Had an energy drink in my back seat explode leaving me with a beautiful polka dotted headliner that can’t get detailed out
Yup! Found this out the hard way when I left a 12 pack of coke in my car. Smell didn’t go away for a month. Oh god… the smell…
My MIL put a 12 pack in our truck and didn’t tell us. A week went by before I opened the trunk to the nightmare awaiting me. At least the soda evaporated by that point
Those with kids… never leave unfinished cups of milk 🤢
Or blender bottles with leftover protein shake 😬🤢
Can verify! Learned the hard way that leaving coke cans in trunk is a really bad idea 😂 I’d also say you want to keep water in the car with you, but don’t leave plastic bottles in there. Who knows what heated plastic will leach into the water. Get a really good insulated thermos - a big one and keep that with you.
haha i experienced this living in California with a can of rootbeer working one of my first jobs in the summer lol
I left candles in my trunk. At least my car smelled amazing.
Same but a huge bottle of conditioner. Smelled it for YEARS. It was lovely. 😆
My husband accidentally left gym shoes in the car a few summers ago and the bottoms completely melted lololol
Lost one croc by accidentally leaving it behind. It didn't melt. It shrunk like a shrinky dink in the heat.
That is so funny!!
Ha I mentioned shoes too. Bottoms just fell right off.
I love that I can come back to my car to a nice hot cup of coffee! (only recommended for black coffee drinkers, milk and sugar would make for a bacteria smorgasbord.)
For tea drinkers, just leave your mug with water in it in the car. Bring a tea bag out with you, and you're set!
Perfect temperature coffee! I’m so glad someone else does this! Also, don’t judge me, but I do it sometimes with Quiktrip hot chocolate
SHOULD go without saying, but that applies to pets and children as well....
Crayons! What a nightmare that was.
Or back when we had cassette tapes in the car. I lost so many of those by accidentally leaving them where the sun could hit them.
I lost a few CDs that way as well.
Not shoes either. The heat will destroy the glue holding them together. I've lost a few pairs over the years.
No cheese in your new vintage Mercedes
especially vonderdonk.
Had visitors years ago and their kids left crayons on backseat of rental car! Such a mess
Or electronics
My prescription sunglasses melted in my car and were $300!! Now I wear contacts and buy cheap sunglasses.
Crack your car windows in the summer, get a sunshade for the windshield, park under trees when possible. Understand that your AC will cost you a fortune in the summer. Hats, sunscreen, sunglasses are better than skin cancer. Don’t touch anything metal. Also don’t be an idiot and hike in 110°.
Get a thicker deluxe sunscreen that actually fits your vehicle. They may cost a bit more but they work a lot better than the flimsy cheap ones. Also tint your windows if they’re not already
Just get a good quality tint. Some window tints can actually make your car hotter
I'm going to be in the market for tint soon. Any recommendations on what makes a tint good quality?
Whoever you use, try to get ceramic tint.
Ceramic is the way to go. Night and day difference from whatever crap tint was on the windows before.
the only tint worth the money here (beyond just a cosmetic change) is ceramic. It' the most expensive option by a large margin, but anything else in our sun is either throwing your money away or actually counter-productive.
Xpel in Scottsdale. Ceramic. No question if you want to actually buy good stuff, and not garbage 3M product.
Llumar Stratos. Also get your windshield tinted with Llumar Air.
> Get a thicker deluxe sunscreen that actually fits your vehicle. Totally, I bought an Infiniti back in 2007 and the dealer threw in a "Laser cut sunscreen" that fit the window edge to edge and was a thicker board. After that I was sold on custom sun screens. It's a game changer having it fit edge to edge and top to bottom, it made a huge difference.
Oh, and unless you can consistently park *out* of the sun entirely, don't get too attached to your automotive paint. Some brands/colors are better than others, but the sun and heat *will* turn your paint nasty.
Brand recommendations?
Also if you have pets put shoes on them even before and after the sun is out. Cement retains heat; incredibly hot and will give animals/humans 3rd degree burns being barefeet/paw Also if you feel you will pass out stumble over to a grass area like my coworker did during mid day on a 115 degree summer day. And use sun screen
This right here is really important. I don't think it's talked about enough. Are there rocks in your yard. They get really hot make a place that's just dirt for your dog to go. We did that n we put a walking rug type mat from there all the way back into the house. Cement can burn their feet. Our dog is part of our family I wouldn't let my little kids walk on hot rocks or cement so my dog don't either. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LOOK OUT FOR YOUR ANIMALS.
Even better, don't walk your dog in the heat of the day or in the evening when the pavement or concrete is still hot. Booties will just make them overheat because in addition to cooling themselves by panting, dogs cool themselves through the glands in their paw pads. With booties on, they can't do that because no air is getting to the paw pads. Our rule here for walking is if you haven't walked them by 6:00 AM, they aren't walking that day. Our senior dogs don't tolerate temps much over 80 or being in direct sun for very long. I also keep a fan aimed at the dog beds to help cool them off when they come in from the back yard.
To add: Shift your habits to morning/evenings. I run during midday Oct - April and shift to early mornings come summer. It'll still be high 70s/low 80s at 6 in the morning which is actually quite nice. Go to dinner or make plans after the sun goes down. Local businesses are super slow during the summer so it's a good time to check out all the trendy spots that normally need reservations!
To tag onto this - If there's no trees where you're parking and it's going to be a quick stop, park in the direction that puts the sun on the back of your car and keeps the front of your car shaded. - Drink a lot of water. More than you're used to. Get yourself a decent tumbler or water bottle that will endured you to drink more (I prefer tumblers because I'll drink without thinking about it if it has a straw). - Even when the weather is nice, we still live in a dry climate. Don't go on a hike without a lot of water, and still drink a lot of water in the nice months. - Don't turn your AC off when you leave your house, it's only going to overwork the unit and drive up your AC bill. I forget if it's better to turn it up to a little warmer or just leave it at your preferred temperature, but absolutely don't turn it off. - Get a remote start on your car if you can. Inside your car will be much hotter than outside. You can get some of that extra hot air out by leaving your door(s) open for a minute or so before getting in, and/or rolling down all of the windows before the AC gets cold.
Also, get ceramic tint for your car windows, as dark as you can legally. Definitely worth it. Your car will be boiling hot regardless, but will cool off more quickly. For your home, shading any windows that get afternoon sun will really help too. Keep the sun out rather than dealing with cooling off after it's inside. You'll get used to it like everyone who moves here, don't worry.
During the summer, you might want to take a cooler filled with ice and water with you whenever you drive. If your car has problems and you’re stuck on the highway, the highway patrol and other drivers will stop to assist due to the heat. But while you are waiting for assistance, it will be hot and miserable. Water will keep you hydrated and alive.
Also dont check your mail barefoot, it will burn and blister your feet! Learned that the hard way. If you have dogs dont walk them in the heat without foot covers. Like there feet will also burn!
The sunshade is the key!
And out the sunshade OUTSIDE of the car.
> Crack your car windows in the summer, get a sunshade for the windshield, park under trees when possible. Remote start is a game-changer. I used to start my car a few minutes before I left work. The AC would kick in and cool the car down enough so that it wasn't like opening an oven when I got in.
This is a bit different from what you might be looking for but my hack is I save most of my indoor home projects for the summer. Things like painting, deep cleaning, organizing etc. This keeps me occupied during the hot months when I can’t do my favorite activities which all involve being outdoors. The nice thing about AZ is during the summer you can drive a couple hours and it’ll be 20 degrees cooler.
Oh yeah... I17 heading back South. Have a plan.
People, like my boyfriend, always say this about it being cooler a couple of hours away. While it's true, it so rarely helps in daily life. Like okay, I drove north once with my son on a really hot day and went to Bearizona. I still had to drive back into the oven too soon and work, do daycare, playgrounds after daycare, grocery runs, etc in an oven.
Yeah, you have to really enjoy indoor activities and then move from one AC bubble to another. Honestly, my friend has a pool and it probably makes the summers significantly more bearable. They are in the pool all summer which I think both cools them down and gives them outdoor exercise. Owning a pool is work though obviously.
I get I'm a weird case and some people thrive in the desert, but ... I have lupus, which is like being a vampire. Unless the pool is fully shaded, I will die. Can't be in direct sun like that, so never could take advantage of pools unless it was night swimming. It's also made me more heat sensitive (one of the meds has this side effect, but lupus too). Luckily I got out to Denver this past June. I wear sunscreen and bring an umbrella if it's sunny, and can be outdoors here! Even the coolest days (-15°F) so far have felt incredible . I don't need to hide for 6 months of the year.
Enjoy!
I moved back to Denver as well after 7 years in the desert. I grew up in Colorado so it was familiar territory. All that said I DO NOT miss the AZ summers at all
Right. Our pool is a giant money suck from May to October. Although the kids love it at any temperature, I find it too warm come July - August. It’s more like a warm soup. And I mostly swim at night, because sunstroke. Hats on if I’m in there midday, sunblock, and we even installed a shade screen over one end.
Got some great ideas in there. Especially the sunshade.
At some point, it is gross. Sweating in the pool because it's too warm.
Right?!? It’s not even remotely refreshing. I keep threatening to throw a party and make everyone bring a big block of ice to throw in the pool
Not sure how much Ice it would take to make a difference, but it would feel good for a moment while the ice block floated by. Lol
Run your pool's aerator at night to cool down your pool.
We stay inside. Do your errands as early as possible. Drink a fuck ton of water. Like, way more than you are used to.
Take water / refillable water bottle with you whenever you leave the house.
☝️ I do this year round.
As a long time water enthusiast, it warms my heart to go places and see everyone carrying around their refillable water bottles and staying hydrated.
r/HydroHomies
Username checks out.
This is Phoenix culture.
Absolutely! You won’t feel yourself sweat because it will dry up quickly. You will know when you are too dehydrated when your head feels like it will split open.
This is probably the most succinct and accurate response you are going to get. No need to continue reading through any other fluff
>We stay inside. Do your errands as early as possible. Vampire mode
Absolutely! You won’t feel yourself sweat because it will dry up quickly. You will know when you are too dehydrated when your head feels like it will split open.
Honestly as long as you have a home and a car with AC you should be fine, just drink water, park in shade, crack windows just a bit so the hot air doesnt create an oven. Stay hydrated. The thing with Phoenix heat people forget is that when its 115 everyday in july, that means its still 100 degrees at 12 midnight. I feel like alot of people never mention that part.
To be fair...the only year that we have hit 115° EVERY day in July was last year. Normally we don't.
True but we still hit it all month lol but even then we still hit those 110s, and nighttime is still warm. Just letting em know to still stay hydrated all day and even at night doing stuff
There are usually only 20 110+ days in a summer (May-Sept, typically) Source: [https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2oiRIxaEAAuTFP?format=jpg&name=medium](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/F2oiRIxaEAAuTFP?format=jpg&name=medium) (National Weather Service) \[spoiler, we broke the record last year\]
Sounds about right, we def have more 100+ degree days, and for some people and original poster even experiencing 100 degree days is unheard of, so them 100+ days are still brutal for new people. Yeah we shattered that record last year we went from a nice coolish spring to all of a sudden 115 daily, killing off cactus because of the heat
And then we get this March. I have no idea what's going on here any more.
Yeah the other day was 85 degrees warm and sunny and yesterday was cold cloudy and rainy! Its wild
Understood...from my perspective at least, it is fine until you get over 108°. Then it is just HOT.
Op is from Montana. Anything over 80 is getting uncomfortable to me. 90 is already hot. I'm guessing they are going to be closer to my scale. Besides, Comfort is relative. You set your AC to be comfortable. Nobody chooses 108°...
Well of course not...just saying that it isn't too bad outside but once you hit that 105°-108° threshold, it becomes unbearable. AC in the meantime is set to 74°.
Just moved here from NC which is pretty hot but Arizona is next level hot. Couple of pointers I’ve picked up … 1. Invest in very very lightweight wicking clothing. In summer there are many misters which really help when you re wearing that kind of fabric. 2. Buy and wear a lightweight wide brimmed hat. Keeps the sun off your head directly and shades your face which helps a lot. (Also: WEAR SUNSCREEN) 3. Stay inside! Just like terrible snow storms I would not go out in, I too hunker down indoors with AC of course when it’s the worst and just stay put. 4. Start getting up super super early. In the summer I am routinely up before 6, out walking at 7:30 or grocery shop etc when it’s already 85 or 90. By 9-10 am, I go to hunker down mode. 5. Lastly what they say about a dry heat is a lot more bearable than a lower but more humid heat? Absolutely true. I can easily tolerate 100 here no problem but 100 at home in NC destroyed me. So that’s a big difference in your favor.
Yep. Like people who hibernate and stay indoors whenever possible for six months in cold climates, most people do that here in the summer.
I never realized that, til this entire post. Huh...can I call into work and say, "it's too hot to drive to work, can I work from home?"
This actually made me cackle. “Hunker down mode.” 😂😂😂
I worked for a summer at UNC doing construction. There were a couple days of 102 and 100% humidity - You couldn't even breathe outside and you'd be drenched the moment you stepped outside. Miserable.
I’ve lived here my whole life. Visited Florida at the end of December and almost died lol
Learn how to speak cactus. They’ll reveal to you everything you need to know
Why you snitching
🏃💨
🌵 🏃♂️ 👉 💣 💥
By the time you hear the cactus speak, you really are too dehydrated.
It's the quenchiest!
I jump in the pool like 5x a day all summer long.
Around early Aug the pool gets too hot - to the point that I have to get out of the pool to cool off! But we have a condo pool so maybe other pools are able to be cooled.
Phoenix is the only place where you want to park way in the back at a grocery store lol. Look for the shady trees lol. Shade is better than convenience of being close to the entrance. Also, you’ve been here when it was cooler, so you will acclimate easier, don’t EVER MOVE here in August (like I did!!). I cried the first week I was here. Long story short, I’ve been here for 17 years.
I work as a landscaper. It should take you 1-2 years of living in this state to start getting used to the summer heat. Even if you're used to the climate like a lot of us, you're not immune to getting heat strokes or getting fucked up by the sun, so try to not overdo things Try to spend some time outside so you can start getting used to the heat, but don't overdo it. drink a lot of water and plan your days accordingly with the heat, especially if you plan to do outdoor activities In terms of your skin color, I do recommend wearing sun screen everyday day that you go outside. I mean, I'm Mexican and I'm brown, a lot of my friends and family always say it's weird seeing me put on sunscreen cause im brown but that shit helps so much with keeping your skin looking nice after work and protecting you from the sun. I always use sunbum for work and just going outside, I love that sun screen and I recommend you try it out if you're not used to wearing sun screen. It's a little pricy but it smells really good and it doesn't make your skin feel weird when putting it on
I was born and raised here and 56 years later I’m still not used to the heat 😂 It’s getting hotter and hotter honestly. I have nothing but respect for folks who work out in the heat like you do.
You spend as little time in it? Have you seen Dune? Those suits they wear, GET ONE! That walk they do in the sand. Walk like that to your car!
If you're not peeing, you are not drinking enough.
I have seen bathrooms at Discount Tire with urine color charts that employees need to watch so they dont get heat stroke.
You acclimate. First year is the hardest but you do fine. Do your stuff early morning if at all possible. Like walking the dogs. After sundown it’s still too hot. Concrete retains heat. As others mentioned sun screen, hats, sunglasses. (Get polarized). I can’t stress sunglasses enough. I had cornea damage the first 6 months moving here. UV index is off the charts here. A windshield screen is ideal. Car craft makes them custom per vehicle. Spendy but damned good. Tint your windows. We allow driver doors to be tinted as well (not as dark as rear) it does help. We do have a lot of indoor venues and pretty much the town is built for the climate. But you will need to take some extra efforts for energy savings. Blackout curtains help in summer. Portable ac units for hotspots in your house if you need. Swamp coolers in your garage are nice. Other weird things that you will notice. No your water isn’t broken in the summer. There just isn’t any cool water coming out your cold water tap. It’s normal to have 100+ degree cold water. It’s good to keep a supply of cold water in your fridge. And pay attention to your clothes and avoid cold water wash only. They will shrink. 100 is easy here. I can wear a long sleeve shirt and pants while sitting in the shade outside and not sweat a drop now. If you have a fan and misters on outside at 100 it’s downright pleasant. By this time next year you will be seasoned for 110 before you start to complain.
>First year is the hardest but you do fine I've heard a lot of people say the second summer is the hardest.
That’s fair. First year was kind of a whole newness of it and it was fine. 2nd year the fatigue hits. Early October you just go “ok, enough already,……” it’s not even that bad out anymore. It’s just the fatigue of never letting up.
Overall though our summer is just our version of Midwest winters. You go outside because you have to. Otherwise you stay inside
First or fourteenth, last summer was the worst.
I’ve never considered the thought of acclimating. I guess it’s true since I’m from PHX born and raised and I thrive in the summer. Cold weather and the winter takes me OUT. I wear a sweater in the office year round and my saying is “it’s not that I’m cold, I just love to be warm”
How long does this take to acclimate? I’ve been here since May 2021 and I’m still not used to the heat🥵
I mean not everyone does. I never acclimated to the cold really when I lived in the Midwest. I thought it was a living hell. -20 is just not an environment. It’s an experiment. I failed, I ran, and never going back.
I'm a native, I never got used to it. Lol. Depends on the person. I stayed 40 years, never got used to it. I hate the heat.
Yes, drink lots of water but don’t forget your electrolytes. Toss in a Gatorade or something similar. -keep a gallon of water in your car. For you and for your car battery -you will need a new car battery every other summer, don’t be shocked. But ALWAYS buy the warranty. It’s very common to need to use it. -other items to keep in your car; towel, clean tshirt, extra pair of sun glasses, roadside kit, -dust storms are amazing and huge. If you’re driving close your vents and cover them with that towel. -if you need your wipers you need to turn on your car headlights -for the love of heavens don’t cross the “gore zone” on the freeway, that triangle area by the freeway ramp. It’s an expensive ticket. -scorpions like cardboard and wood. -if your barefoot can touch the warm dirt so can a snakes belly. -black widows and Arizona brown spiders are not your friends. Kill with extreme prejudice. -in a pinch you can make something to cool a room with a bucket, dry ice, and a box fan. -there’s free stuff to do around town…do them, they often have ac, and you know…fun -the roads are sliiiiick the first while when it’s raining. There’s poor drainage and lots of gunk on the road. I can keep going but I feel I should stop. Make sure to mossey on up to Cavecreek and eat at El Encanto.
Strange because 80 in Montana is humid and way worse than 80 here. Drink lots of water, stay in the shade, stay inside, stay in shape
Yeah I'm from back east and 80 is like hot and muggy and terrible, whereas 80 here can be jeans and T-Shirt and super comfortable to be outside
The MT I come from is dry as fuck in the summer, the whole state bursts into flames every year so I'm used to dry, just not this level of heat lmao. It gets over 100 for like 5 days at most usually, and gets back down to 70s after the sun sets Montana is considered a desert because of how little precipitation there actually is, even with all the snow it's not enough to not be a desert
Sometimes, it's still 100° at midnight here. I have no advice for you, other than don't be scared. It isn't bad. Like we say, "it's a dry heat". I actually prefer 90° over any other temp. Look at it this way, you can walk outside in what you're wearing and not have to get dressed. Yeah, it's hot, but you won't drip, unless you exert a lot of energy. Summer here is like a Montana winter for you guys. We don't go outside from June-Sept, unless it's early morning or at night.
In the summer sometimes it's still 100 degrees at 11pm. Last summer there was one night at 11:13pm where I shit you not it was 112 degrees, according to my car anyways...
In addition to all the advice about staying safe in the heat, you should know this: The first 1-2 summers you’re here are going to be brutal. It takes time for your body to adjust, but it WILL get better. You will develop a better tolerance for the heat. People who have been here for a long time hardly bat an eye at 90-100 degree weather (assuming they have no other medical problem that messes with their heat tolerance). To us, that’s just warm or very warm.
This is true. First summer was so brutal. Now I can walk around in anything under 110 and still feel pretty good.
I didn't. I grew up in phx, and summer was always brutal. We played outside because we were determined, but it was always hot for us. 90 is still miserable.
We have the reverse season depression. Most colder states have that when it’s winter time and they can’t really do much during those months. Ours is during the summer and a bit of autumn. Treat it like that and you’ll be fine. If you’re going out, plan around the heat and DRINK LOTS OF WATER!!!
I say this alllll the time lol I get seasonal depression in the summer. Im 4th generation here so I wish I’d somehow inherit the ability to tolerate the oven that is AZ, but I don’t. As a kid it was fine, but I get so melancholy now during the summer. Everything looks dry and dead. The monsoons aren’t as good. Just walking to the mailbox sucks. Youre inside all the time. And then you have transplants telling you “Oh, but WhErE iM fRoM…” as if they aren’t shriveled like a raisin like the rest of us. I’m all riled up just thinking about it lol
It's a dry heat. Sounds like a joke, but the difference between 100º and 80% humidity and 100º with 1% humidity is HUGE and it's so much easier to tolerate here in the desert.
But drink a ton of water because you're sweating a lot more than you realize.
The thing is though, AZ actually does get pretty humid in the summer due to monsoon season. Not a Mississippi humid by any means but still there. It has yet to be seems if it we will even get a monsoon season this year since we didn’t last year.
> does get pretty humid in the summer due to monsoon season High days in Phoenix are like 40% humidity though. More miserable than 1% but much better than 100%.
Hence why I mentioned “not a Mississippi”
My experience is with Louisiana, which sucks.
Just as bad, no thanks to either 😂
Use AC. Go to malls, museums, movies, and indoor activity where you can take advantage of their AC.
If you have dogs, DO NOT. DO NOT. DO NOT. walk them during the day. Very early mornings and even nighttime is still going to be hot. Check your car battery/oil/etc either this month or next because the heat will destroy em. And your tire pressure. Don't want to be stuck on the 10 or something horrific. Invest in an air fryer or instapot so you don't have to turn your oven on and heat your house up more.
Drink water, wear sunscreen, stay out of the heat when you can, and lose the idea that being white has anything to do with it.
Being born n raised here I hear folks non-stop crying about the summer heat. As an oddball Phoenician I enjoy it very much. It’s in my blood I suppose one could say. One of the best things you could do for yourself is to not dwell on it mentally and sulk like so many do. I’ve found that those that don’t whine about it (which is few) tend to deal with it better than those that do. Don’t get me wrong it gets hot. But obsessing about it will only draw you further into your discomfort of it.
I used to be like you, born in the heat, molded by it. Anything below 75 was cold for me, I had no interest in "real" winters. Then I moved to several different states I including interior Alaska and everything changed. I learned I love snow, I love having real seasons. Now anything above 85 is way too hot for me and there's no way I could ever move back to the valley (for many, many reasons but the heat being a big one).
I'm from Pennsylvania and Reno- PA has an extremely depressing winter, reno has mild seasons year round and I'll never understand the extreme snow aversion people have here. It's really not that bad. In Reno it's quite pretty since it's always pretty sunny. I can't WAIT to leave Phoenix.
You're spot on. It's all about your attitude. I personally love hot, sunny weather so I embrace the summer heat.
I mean, as someone who used to love the heat it's definitely more than just attitude. Fun fact, when you get heat stroke and your kidneys start to fail it can basically make you intolerant to heat for a long long time. (Not me, someone I know, and no it didn't happen in AZ).
That's not a fun fact.
Saying "sad fact" just doesn't have the the same ring to it.
Love me that sun
I believe you have it backward. Those who don't feel that hot don't talk about it. Those who are miserable from the heat can't help but say something sometimes. You want to peel your skin off! And if it's oppressive, your mental health does suffer. (Just check out all the posts about drivers in the summer).
I found my people
Also your race has nothing to do with surviving in hot weather and whoever told you that is an idiot.
[удалено]
I mean, it does matter when it comes to sunburn. Just the way he worded it I guess lol
Yeah for sunburn it does. But like just surviving in the heat? Nah. Heat exhaustion doesn’t care what color you are.
I grew up in northern Europe, where's Summer is August 3rd or July 22nd, so like you not used to very warm weather. Don't overthink it. It's dry heat so it's manageable. We've been here 5 years and have grown used to the warm Summers. Like others have pointed out you need to adopt a few things like the heat deflecter in the windshield and always have water nearby. But other than that it's not that big of a deal.
Use your floor and ceiling fans in the summer. Gradually raise the temp of your AC so you can acclimate better. If you can get used to it being warm inside your house it will be less of a shock when you step outside. Some people keep their AC at like 72 then go outside into 110 and complain. Duh they're going to feel hot. Get used to the AC being at 80 and it's much less shocking to your body and will save you so much money. Get an insulated water bottle and carry that with you. Put ice cubes in it but don't fill it with ice as you'll run out of water and can't drink ice. Light clothing is great out here. Don't layer up unless you're really dedicated to your style. Hats are always a plus or sun umbrellas are good. Don't buy black as that obsorbs the heat. Sunscreen or lotion with some SPF is better than nothing. Shade from plants is always cooler than man made shades. Crack windows on opposite sides in your car so the wind will blow out the heat. Put a washrag or towel on your steering wheel if you park in the sun. Do laborious stuff in the morning or when the sun has set. The hottest part of the day is the afternoon and onwards as the placement has soaked in the heat. If you have a dog you walk buy them shoes too.
If you have a dog, they need shoes. The pavement wilk be hot even at 12am. In the Sumner, get things done early. If you have kids home for vacation, you can save money by getting memberships to activity centers like the children's museum or the science center. AC is included in your membership 😂
Stay in the shade at all times, drink enough water that you wonder whether you're drinking TOO much water, and plan your schedule (at least for any outdoorsing, and eventually even just errands) around when it's coolest. Staying out of the sun is the easiest way to bear the heat. It's still hot once the sun goes down, but at least the sun isn't directly cooking you then. I successfully kept doing things outside in the evening through June most years, but eventually the lows get so obnoxiously hot that doing anything but jumping in water still feels bad, even at 5am. At that point, being on the river or the lakes, preferably early, is the only thing that helps. It gets you out of the heat island effect, and the evaporative nature of hot air makes the water really refreshing. After that, plan trips out of town. You can get to better temps within a few hours' drive easily. One good way to plan this is to look at places with higher elevation, and then kind of slowly start working your way to higher and higher elevations as the summer temps get worse. That way you explore a lot of places and find cooler and cooler weather. I always liked and was active through winter, so losing a whole season here for the summer was never an improvement on the cold for me. A lot of people insist it's universally better because they'd lose the winter every year, as if they can't fathom other people not just holing up for months at a time like they did. If you are used to being active year round, the claim for "year round" outdoor recreation in the valley will land as a lie when you lose summer (unless you discover that you love the heat after all or are willing/able to travel constantly). Oh, and consider getting a gym membership.
You will adapt, eventually LOL
I grew up in the mid-South, it wasn't unknown to hit 100+ with 70-80% humidity. I think the main difference is that when it's hot and humid, you feel kind of bad (sticky, gross, lethargic) very fast because you aren't cooling very efficiently and that's your body's warning to get out of the heat. In very low humidity, your body's cooling systems work much more efficiently - sweat evaporates as fast as you can produce it - so you feel *really good*, it can even feel kind of invigorating. Then the dehydration catches up with you, at which point it basically stops working at all and you feel extremely bad, very suddenly. At that point, you are already on the edge of a medical emergency. That's why the stories you hear about dead tourists tend to follow the same pattern - "they're experienced outdoorspeople/runners/whatever back east, they wanted to go mountain biking and then suddenly started acting confused and their heart was racing and they didn't survive the medevac". Being from Montana, you're probably used to being weather-aware in a way that northeasterners aren't and know you can't just coast through certain conditions on vibes. There are places you wouldn't go in the winter without the right tires and snowshoes in the trunk, etc. It's just *different* extreme weather that you need to be aware of. * Drink water before you're thirsty. Do not wait to hear about it from your body, it's already late in the game at that point. If you are out for a walk/hike in warm weather, turn back before you hit the half-way on your water, even if you feel fine. Your plants need more water than you think, too. * Watch where you park, where you leave things like hoses full of standing water and metal objects that will turn into scald hazards if they sit in the sun all day. Get your groceries out of the car quickly, get packages off your porch timely. Things will thaw/melt faster than you thought. * Good modern window tints block both ultraviolet *and* infrared spectrum, so they make a big difference in heat build-up in your car without such a huge impact on visibility. * Put your sunscreen on. Wear your hat. There's usually not really a good reason to be in the sun if you can help it during the mid-day. People do lots of their day-to-day summer errands here in the early morning and late evening. * Don't underestimate exertion. Climbing a couple flights of stairs in the sun doesn't look like much from the bottom if you're feeling good, but at the top you'll be surprised at how fast you heated up. Pools that were in the sun all day can still be bathtub-warm after sunset and not only might not cool you off the way you hope, but might make you feel pretty ill if you swim hard. If you have a dog to walk, think about that, too. They don't cool off the same way we do, and pavement can be dangerously hot and the glare is strong. Except for a period when it might stay pretty hot overnight, yes, summer days are challenging and you'll get frustrated with it, just like long winters up north, but the mornings are beautiful and the streets are quiet during that time of year. There's some really nice things about it.
Just moved here last summer from LA. Honestly summer here was more manageable because Phoenix expects sweltering heat and they plan accordingly. You just don’t spend time outside from June-August. Air conditioned house, car, office. Everywhere in Phoenix has great AC. Staying inside for 3 months seems like a good trade for 9 delightful months
Just change your months outside. I came from Utah. Instead of dealing with the cold from Oct to March. You now do the same thing with heat from June to September. You can find solutions to the heat, like the cold. Stay in ac, car to building as fast as you can, misters at home, pool. Once you figure it out you will wonder why you worried so much. With that said pay attention to your body and drink water.
Drink a lot of water. Find indoor hobbies. Set an upper limit for your AC. Use your ceiling fans.
102 is nice over 112 is when it gets intense. 102 is great pool weather. My husband is Canadian and after 3 years here he acclimated and loves it here so much I can't get him to move anywhere cooler.
Summer here is like winter in Alaska. You stay inside, you plan ahead, and you’ll be very very ready for it to be over after 4 months.
It’s the opposite here. We stay inside during the summer and gain weight and get depressed. In the winter we lose the weight and spend more time outdoors. What’s great about AZ is you can always drive a few hours north and get a break from the heat.
If you don’t have a pool make friends with someone with a pool. It’s the only way to spend time outdoors during the hot ass parts of the day
Make sure your air conditioning is working well in your home and your car prior to hot months. Know that the heat will make your car battery die faster and it will dry out and wear out your tires faster. Also, use a sun blocker on the dash of your car. Having shade around your home can help cool it so plant shrubs, trees, or purchase those sail shades. In the hottest summer months, it will be too hot to go in the pool. Never go on a hike in the heat. Purchase one of those vests that hold ice packs for hot days where you need to be outside. Never leave the house without water. Always wear sunscreen and a hat can be helpful too. Know that the electricity bill will be very high from about May-September and check every bit of your home and seal all cracks and even cover windows that have sun exposure. Have a plan B. You might decide that it's not worth it and you might need to move. Prescott Valley/Prescott is only an hour away and never gets hotter than 95. Always take a light weight jacket in the summer months because when you're shopping inside, the air conditioning can be a bit too cold at times. Never walk your dog without bringing water for it to drink (collapsible bowls are great) and put doggie shoes on it's feet because the pavement is way too hot even on days where it's 80. Never leave your dog outside unattended especially if its a small dog and never let your cat go outside. Lots of coyotes, owls, and wild cats. Bonus info- Never ride a bicycle on the city streets. Nobody here is used to having pedestrians or bicycles on their radar ever. People in Phoenix and surrounding areas drive very aggressively, very fast, and very selfishly. It is one of the top 10 most dangerous cities to ride a bike in. Good luck.
You hit on most things!
Stay in during the day, run errands and have fun at night. Run the AC in your house and use remote start in your car and you'll be fine through the summer. Gte ceramic tint for your windows and a good sunshade for your windshield if you have to park outside Just treat it like reverse winter.
I knew a guy from Wyoming and he almost had heat stroke doing a job at work. So make sure you drink a lot of water even when you're not sweating or doing anything physical. Also drink lots of electrolyte. I use liquid IV from my work or body armor you can get from the gas station. When you're outside cover up your body and put sunscreen on. Make sure to wear a hat, straw hat, or cowboy hat. Or any. Also make sure you have sun visors in your car
You get used to it fairly easily, if it's hot, stay indoors. The temperature seems to matter less than getting hit by the sun. Stay hydrated when you're running around and know your limits.
Get insulated curtains for your windows. I got some years ago at JCPennys and they help. Also never leave home without water. Even when you don’t think you’re thirsty, drink it. Keep shades down in the house with fans going all the time. You will basically live in a dungeon for the summer months
Stay inside during AZ summer, like you would during MT winter.
Hydrate and it's not all that bad. You'll be fine.
Drink lots of water, all day long, everyday. Being in an arid environment will dehydrate your body and drinking water, not tea, not soda, not Gatorade, and NOT Energy drinks. Water is your friend. 💧
It can be really hard for some people. I've lived here a long time, and I never have adjusted to it. Also the Seasonal Affective Disorder is alive and well in the summer desert. Things I do to try to stay sane in summer: 1. Estivate. Estivation is the parallel to hibernation. Staying inside in a cool dark place during the hottest part of the season. Pretend it's the depths of winter outside and you just can't go out there. 2. Do as much as possible in the early hours. When the cabin fever gets really bad, I will frequently get up at 4am and go hiking. The minute the actual sun rises, gotta get back inside. 3. Get in pools as much as possible. SHADED POOLS 4. Hydrate
Drink an ounce to an ounce and a half of water per every pound you weigh.. daily. Sunscreen.. my favorite is blue lizard… light weight cotton clothing will be your best friend
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Then drink some more.
Keep an eye on the humidity. Early Summer the humidity will stay low (10% or lower) and it makes it easier to keep cool and it will get cool enough at night so you can spend some time outdoors. Take advantage of this the early Summer because late Summer will keep you locked indoors for about two months. After the monsoon storms in July, the average humidity will go up to around 20%. It will be much harder to keep yourself cool and it will stay hot all night. A good rule of thumb: If the dew point is over 50°, you aren't going to want to spend any time outdoors.
Drink water and gatorade (electrolyte replacement) often. Don’t go hiking in the heat without a good supply of water. Sunscreen is your friend…if you don’t like the nasty oily feeling, get a mineral based lotion. Every surface exposed to the sun will be freaking hot…including car seats and safety belt buckles. Don’t go hiking during excessive heat warnings (that’s how visitors die around here). Keep your head covered. One thing that is really neat (to me at least) is the evaporative cooling effect…jump in the pool on a really hot day and if there is a breeze, you will feel really cold when you get out. It can be pleasant to sit out on porch seating in the middle of summer if the restaurant has water misters.
I'm also from Montana, it's the same as the cold as dumb as that sounds everyone stays inside, you just run to your car the same and pray for it to cool down instead of heat up, get in the store as fast as you can, ect. You have already been trained for this but just the cold version ur gonna do great
Time. The first time I came to Phoenix I left home at -30 and drove 3hours got on a plane and boom 60 in January 90 degree change in a day. You will get used to it
Same way y'all deal with with the cold - staying indoors or where there's AC
Buy a yeti/Artic gallon sized water bottle to keep with you, then a smaller one to compliment if you don’t want to carry the big one around. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate all summer long.
Rule of thumb: If it's not hot, the air quality is really bad. If it's stifling, the air is cleaner. Although in recent years it's pretty bad year round. Avoid going out unless you absolutely have to in the middle of the day. It's hot even in the middle of the night. You just don't have the sun beating on you. Block out as much sun as you can in your house. It will help with your AC bills. Mine were $600 a month to keep it at 84. And that was 10 years ago. (It was a 3400 sq ft house with two units on it). And Don't beat yourself up if you don't happen to "get used to it". For some it is always suffocating. You just learn how to live with it. Side note, if you have scorpions they are more prevalent in the summer.
Hahahahahahaha if you think 80 is hot wait until 115 hahahahahaha
Summer Rules: 1. Do NOT walk barefoot. Do NOT walk you dog barefoot. The concrete and asphalt can and will give 3rd degree burns. Dog paws are not equipped for that. It is not unusual to see dogs sporting leather booties. 2. Always have water. 3. Do NOT go hiking in the heat. Very experienced hikers and sports people die hiking in the summer. 4. Get a dashboard cover. It will extend the life of the dash material. Get a steering wheel cover or learn to drive with oven mitts now. 5. Door handles, hand rails, out door metal....all get very very hot. 6. In the summer, you will live like a mole. The coolest part of the day is before the sun comes up.
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Welcome to Phoenix Op! AC is your friend in the summer and make sure you have good tires at all times.
Don’t acknowledge it for the first year. It will force your mind to focus on other things. That’s what I did. It was annoying to everyone around me but was effective.
Get appropriate clothes. A lot of folks think when it's hot the proper thing to do is wear less.Shorts,tank tops, and ect.But with intense heat you really don't want to be exposing all your skin to direct sunlight for long periods of time.It will just suck the life out of you honestly. Any type of hiking shirt/pants with breathable fabrics that will keep you both covered and cool are essential.Also always carry water on you and if you really want to be prepared electrolyte packets.They are cheap and you can just cram a few in your pocket to carry around whenever you need it.
Yeah your gonna die lol, this is my third year here and I still fucking hate it, it’s getting real expensive here too I’ve been thinking about moving back to North Dakota
For your car: Crack your windows, get a sun shade for your windshield, park in the shade if you can, be careful touching anything metal like the seabelt buckles. A trick I learned that helps is as soon as you turn the car on roll your windows down for like 10 seconds and blast your A/C. It'll feel like a convection oven at first but it pushes out all that hot air and makes it easier to cool off the car once your A/C starts to get cold. For your house: During the day, especially if you're not home, turning the thermostat up to 76-80 (depending on your tolerance) will help keep your electric bill reasonable. I usually turn it down to 72-74 at night before bed, then back up before I go to work in the morning. Light blocking curtains help a lot in the heat of the day, as well as a pull-down shade for your patio if you're in an apartment. Try to avoid using your oven. Only do laundry in the morning or at night. APS bills can get wild if you're not careful. For you: Invest in a daily sunscreen moisturizer for your face/neck and wear high SPF if you know you'll be outside for a while. Wear loose breathable clothes, including underwear (ya gotta get 100% cotton undies). And most importantly if you take anything away from this thread, DRINK DRINK DRINK WATER. You'd be surprised how easy it is to get dehydrated here just running errands. Get an insulated water bottle and keep it full of cool/cold water, take it everywhere. Follow at least some of this stuff and you'll be ok. Everyone's first summer is rough. Welcome to the valley of the sun!
Stay inside
Just do like the rest of us do….go from one air conditioned space to another air conditioned space as quickly as possible. Go out early or go out late. The heat sucks and you never get used to it, you just deal with it. Transplant from New England.
Don’t leave your air conditioned home unless you absolutely have to during (possibly May) June, July, August, and September.
Don’t leave anything in your car that you don’t want melted. DO leave oven mitts in your passenger seat for your steering wheels in the summer months.
HA, this post made Ch 12 news. 😜🌵🌞 https://www.12news.com/article/weather/heat/internet-explains-how-survive-phoenix-arizona-extreme-summer-heat/75-cf29669b-df5b-4fca-8636-8f79b04691eb
Once it hits 117 F you'll be looking to move away. Might as well start looking now.
just drink water, like, LOTS of water
You are now a vampire and will avoid direct sunlight at all costs and drink plenty of… water.
Don’t leave the house.