Temperatures rise to 145 inside Tent City

by Eugene Scott - Jul. 3, 2011 12:00 AM

The Arizona Republic

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio took the temperature inside one of the tents at Tent City Saturday afternoon.

The tents can sometimes mimic ovens or hot cars. The gauge in Arpaio's hand indicated 145 degrees, nearly 30 degrees hotter than the day's high.

The sheriff said it was exceptionally hot at the outdoor jail but said there was nothing he could do about it. [Translation - Sheriff Joe is a sadist and he refuses to do anything about it, because Sheriff Joe gets his jollies by torturing people]

"What am I going to do, take them out of jail because it's too hot?" he said. "Our men and women are working out here in this heat, too. Does anyone feel sorry for them?"

At 118 degrees, Saturday was the hottest day of the year so far. To keep inmates cool, deputies passed out 6-ounce cups of ice to inmates at Tent City, located near 35th Avenue and Durango Street in Phoenix. It was the first time Arpaio has given inmates ice this year, and he said he doesn't know when he'll do it again.

Each of the 1,400 inmates in Tent City has been convicted of non-violent crimes, such as driving under the influence. [ That sounds wrong. Last time I checked Sheriff Joe's Tent City Gulag is used to house prisoners who have not been convicted of anything, but are awaiting going to trial. ]

The facility, which has been open since 1993, can accommodate up to 2,000 inmates beneath its military surplus tents.

Female prisoners waited in a long line Saturday to receive their cup of ice while joking around with Arpaio. Many eagerly asked him to autograph Sheriff's Office postcards.

After receiving the ice, a few complained to media members that the fans near their beds were broken and the intense heat was causing their shoes to melt [Sounds like more hype by the reporter. I have lived in Phoenix most of my life and not once have my shoes melted in the summer.].

"They're just doing this for the media attention. This cup isn't going to do anything (to cool us down)," said Danielle Meek, 32, of Phoenix.

Despite the discomforts, Carrissa Satmarean, 21, of Mesa, said the moment wasn't completely wasted.

"We just came over here to see the guys (male inmates)," she said.

Source

Phoenix hits 118 degrees, has hottest day so far of year

by Kristena Hansen - Jul. 2, 2011 05:14 PM

The Arizona Republic

At 118 degrees Saturday afternoon, Phoenix saw its hottest day of the year so far, trumping earlier forecasts and setting a new record from a decade ago, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport were expected to reach 116 degrees, the record for the day set back in 2001, said Charlotte Dewey, a weather service meteorologist in Phoenix.

Saturday also marked the first day of monsoon activity.

Storm systems active in Gila County earlier in the day are settling over the Valley, but metro Phoenix isn't expected to see anything more than slightly lower temperatures and blowing dust in the evening, Dewey said.

"We haven't had any reports of rain yet," Dewey said shortly before 5 p.m. "It may be sprinkling, but no measurable rain." [I got hit by at least 12 drops of rain when I was in Mesa, maybe as many as 20 drops of rain]

That could change by the July Fourth holiday. Dewey said there is a chance for thunderstorms Monday evening. The high for Monday is expected to reach 107 degrees, with mostly sunny conditions until about 5 p.m. A 25 to 30 percent chance of thunderstorms will last until about 11 p.m., Dewey said.

As for Sunday, the expected high is 109 degrees with a slight chance of evening thunderstorms.

Source

Jul. 2, 2011 9:55 PM ET

Phoenix sets record heat for day at 118 degrees

PHOENIX (AP) — About 4,000 homes in the metropolitan Phoenix area are without power — and air-conditioning — on a record-shattering day of heat in one of the nation's hottest cities.

Phoenix hit a high temperature of 118 degrees on Saturday, topping a 10-year-old record of 116 degrees for the date.

The National Weather Service say clouds from monsoon activity likely kept the area from reaching 120 degrees, but they say it's still the city's hottest day so far this year.

The monsoon brought wind gusts that toppled power lines and knocked out electricity to homes in Phoenix suburbs.

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio ordered thousands of bags of ice to the county's outdoor jails, saying inmates could have as much as they want and for any use — including to sit on. [How are you going to sit on a cup of ice?]