The Grand Canyon State isn’t so grand right now. Considered one of the premier destinations for Snowbirds, Arizona is a wonderful place to be—in winter. Canadian visitors are known to sit in lawn chairs wearing shorts and tank tops on an Arizona January day. But right now, Arizona is snowbird hell. Phoenix has set a new record—100 days of 100-degree or above weather. But hold on, you “winter visitors.” Quartzsite isn’t far behind.
Hot temps and deadly consequences
Quartzsite saw weather pushing 100 degrees back in May. On May 17, the century mark was reached, but things settled down until May 28, when things heated up to 102. Nobody touched the thermostat until June 4, when it cooled down to a reasonable 99. Since then, there’s been no respite. It’s been 100 and above for 92 days straight.
Drive east 150 miles along I-10, you hit Phoenix. Home to 69 RV parks in the Metro area alone (not even counting those in Apache Junction), it’s a popular snowbird destination, too. But 2023 saw another big statistic: 645 heat-related deaths in the Metro area. This year the medical examiner confirmed 177 deaths due to heat, with 436 more still being investigated.
Yeah, it gets hot down on the Sonora Desert. And Phoenix’s big record is indeed a record. The previous longest-running record for 100-and-above days was set in 1993—a minuscule 76 days. If you’re keeping track, four of the hottest summers were recorded in Phoenix in just the last six years.
Quartzsite snowbird? Here’s how September is shaping up
What does it all mean for snowbirds this year? Do you like temps in the 70s? In Quartzsite, there’ll be plenty of those, if you don’t mind them at night. Accuweather says it doesn’t see a break from the 100s until September 20, with 99-degree days until September 22. That day, they suggest a little bump to 103, then back into the 90s.
LTVA winter season opens September 15
The Bureau of Land Management will still open the Long Term Visitor Area winter season on September 15. Get your permit, set up camp, and see what it’s like when, “It’s hot enough to scald a lizard.” And if you have a generator, then, by all means, “Crank up the A/C until it’s blowin’ snowballs.”
We’ll see you in Quartzsite … sometime in mid-October.
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Heat is the reason we don’t head south until late October. By then, temps should be in the eighties.
Yes been a hot summer here in Quartzsite and still hot. Yesterday thermometer at neighbor said 118.
For those that stay on LTVA – BLM is taking comments on raising the 7 month fee to $600. Raising the short term from 14 to 30 days at cost of $200. Non-winter months: $20 per nite, $200 for the summer season. Email BLM_AZ_YFOWEB@blm.gov to leave your comment.
Pretty sure recommending SnowBirds that are planning on heading to AZ in July and August should not, is not an issue. It’s kind of in the name SNOWbirds. Snow being the key word in the label….. unless of course it is snowing in Minnesota this July or August.
Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 All those temperatures certainly make East Tennessee feel awfully good to me. It was 69° F at 7:30 yesterday morning. It is 79° F here on the shaded back porch this afternoon (~3:25 PM, EDT) even though the sun shines brightly, the breeze blows cooly, and the sky is high. Thanks again, have a great weekend, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Thats it Neal, it’s settled. We will head your way next summer because it was 107 in my back yard today. Enough is enough. I’ll bring the steaks, Byerly can bring the beer. We can pick our mountain plots while we’re there.
Happy trails Neal. Stay well.
We’ll also help regrade his driveway and drive the tractor around in circles..I’ll bring some bourbon too if Neal will supply some ice cubes !😀
We have ice, Bill! 🙂 Come ahead! 🙂 8325 Davis Farm Lane, Ooltewah, Tennessee is the RV barn address and your destination. 🙂
WOOHOO!! Let’s travel !
🙂
We have plenty of room for you, Bill, your rigs, and any pets, Cancelproof! 🙂
Count on us Neal. We will get this sorted. 🍻🥩✌️
Will do, Cancelproof. 🙂 Safe travels! 🙂
Thank you, Cancelproof! 🙂 Will do! 🙂
Mid 90’s just below Mt. Rainier 2 days ago, and the same here in Troutdale, Oregon, along the Columbia River yesterday.
That’s a bit warm, Bill. I hope your air conditioning is in good working order.
It’s working great as long as we have hook-ups wherever we’re staying..
Excellent! 🙂 Sorry you can’t give it a break yet. Fall is on its way. 🙂
Sandy River park? My favorite in Portland until I stayed at Janzen beach this summer.