It's Too Hot to Fly in Phoenix Today

A record heatwave and the likelihood for more extreme weather raises alarm in Arizona.

1 minute read

June 20, 2017, 1:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Airport

benemale / Shutterstock

"The extreme heat forecast for Phoenix on Tuesday has caused the cancellation of 20 American Airlines flights out of Sky Harbor International Airport," reports Zachary Hansen.

"According to a statement from American Airlines, the American Eagle regional flights use the Bombardier CRJ aircraft, which has a maximum operating temperature of 118 degrees," adds Hansen. "Tuesday's forecast for Phoenix included a high of 120 degrees, and the flights that are affected were to take off between 3 and 6 p.m. MT."

There is some precedent for a heat wave that knocks out air travel in the Phoenix area—in June 1990 a record high temperature of 122 degrees "grounded some airlines for the day."

For more on the climate change science behind today's record-setting heat, Eric Holthaus writes an article for Pacific Standard that says "as far back as weather records go, it's never been this hot for this long," in Arizona. In Tucson, for instance, the city has gone seven consecutive days with temperatures above 111 degrees. According to Holthaus's take, these records won't stand for long, because the heat wave is a sure sign of humanity's growing influence on the atmosphere. 

Monday, June 19, 2017 in The Arizona Republic

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

November 11, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A road in north eastern Nebraska with power lines on either side, and grassy fields.

Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity

Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.

November 6, 2026 - Grist

People walking in downtown St. Louis, walking past shops.

Move over, LA: St. Louis gears up for Olympics, invests millions in downtown redevelopment

The Missouri city will host the 2028 Olympic soccer group stage and knockout matches.

November 1, 2026 - Smart Cities Dive

Construction in Dallas. An aerial shot of a wooden frame of an apartment building.

Dallas releases zoning code overhaul to officials

The drafted overhaul is over 400 pages long.

November 11 - Dallas Morning News

Canal street, where pedestrians are packed shoulder to shoulder.

NYC renovations for dangerous, ‘mercilessly crammed’ street delayed until 2027

Construction was supposed to begin this fall.

November 11 - Gothamist

A rendering of Midway Rising that shows people mingling in a green space between apartment buildings.

San Diego’s Midway Rising project gets greenlight from city council

The project looks to become the largest affordable housing development in California's history.

November 11 - KPBS

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.