Phoenix - is it too hot in the desert to..?

Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:27 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Phoenix - is it too hot in the desert to..?

Hello,
Going to be in Phoenix around the 23rd of September for a business retreat. I know we can't seem to rely on the temperature since these days nothing seems to be normal with the weather. I am being offered outdoor activities to sign up for like horseback riding or Hummer desert tours but when I think of it being in the high 90's I think of being in the pools at the hotel! Outside in the desert in oppressive heat doesn't excite me.

If locals can give me perspective on the heat and being active outside these dates in September, I would appreciate it. Thank you very much.

Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:59 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Here's the weather record for Phoenix for September 2021.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/ph...6935?year=2021

I pick the pool.
Jean is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 07:09 AM
  #3  
J62
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 11,924
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
If the activity is in the morning, then either of those activities would be fine even if the afternoon high is 100F. Water, sunscreen, and wide brim hat regardless.
A hummer tour would be fine even if it's afternoon as you wouldn't be exerting yourself. Horseback riding personally I would avoid in the afternoon.

Depending on where the retreat is there are a lot of hiking trails in the hills/mountains above Phoenix. Where is the retreat?

Any of those outdoor activities make the pool even more attractive when you return.

I pick a morning desert hike, followed by the pool.

Last edited by J62; Aug 18th, 2022 at 07:20 AM.
J62 is online now  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 09:04 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 34,840
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
YOu don't really have to be a local to know what activities in certain weather is like.

I wouldn't do horseback riding in Sept near Phoenix unless I lived there and could go early. It will likely be 80 at least. Do you have experience with riding? YOu have to wear long pants like jeans and boots. So you'll need special clothes to take just for that as your jeans will smell of horse afterwards. So that's the issue as to why I wouldn't do it on a business trip. I used to live in LA and took riding lessons and did go when it was 80, wearing lighter weight jeans and boots, but as I said, I didn't have to pack those clothes for a trip. But if you ride a lot, you may have your own opinions on that, but then again, you wouldn't need to do that for fun on a business trip likely if you do it a lot at home.
Christina is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 09:45 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2022
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
The humidity is lower in the desert normally (except when they get monsoons). But yes you can do activities in the morning and be just fine. Of course, I'm used to it. Where I live we've had 90s F and high humidity all summer long.
PrairieHikerI is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 01:04 PM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I have been active in the southern Arizona desert in June, out all day (till about 4 pm).

Based on June (low humidity, later in the summer when it rains there can be some humidity):

Mornings are always fine, even if the mid-afternoon temp is over 100, before 9 am will nearly always be comfortable, after 11 am is when it becomes unbearably hot in the sun. But even on hot days, the mornings can be long sleeved shirt is required cool.
tom_mn is online now  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:33 PM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow Jean! This chart is very informative.
I will take that under advisement and with what J62 wrote, it's great info. thank you.
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:36 PM
  #8  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
J62 - we will be staying at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge, thanks for asking.
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:44 PM
  #9  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Christina,
I appreciate your reply. I have ruled out horseback riding at this point. I have gone riding a half dozen times. Yes, all of your points are well taken! I am remembering riding on a beach in Costa Rica in June in deadly heat. I felt terrible for the horses; they could barley move and it really wasn't fun in the heat for us humans,

Seems like perhaps due to the season of such high heat some retailers close, some events don't take place in the area. I am hoping to explore Native American culture in various ways and noticed online many things are closed.
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:48 PM
  #10  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I live in New England and we have had the weather you describe this summer, but I am 10 minutes to the ocean beaches to cool off.
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 06:51 PM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tom_mn,
Your time guidelines are very helpful to keep in mind when planning outside activities. Thank you!
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 18th, 2022, 07:22 PM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I should have specified the cool, long-sleeved shirt weather is 4:30-6:00 am. There’s no daylight time so it’s possible to work outside in June at 4:30. Maybe the longer nights in September mean similar cooler weather slides to later in the morning.

I have been in Phoenix at the end of August during the “monsoon” when there’s moisture that both adds mugginess and retains more heat overnight into the morning.

Last edited by tom_mn; Aug 18th, 2022 at 07:25 PM.
tom_mn is online now  
Old Aug 19th, 2022, 10:48 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,990
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
Desert heat can be very dangerous as it doesn’t feel as hot as it is. Deaths every summer in Tucson are always tourists and Phoenix is hotter than Tucson. Be careful, be aware. If in doubt, ask a local.
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2022, 04:57 PM
  #14  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 945
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Happy Trvl for this!
Juldie is offline  
Old Aug 20th, 2022, 06:30 PM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,884
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Although it was true before 2012 that most people in Arizona who died from the heat were from out of state, it hasn’t been true in any year since then.

heat-related-deaths-2009-2019.pdf
tom_mn is online now  
Old Sep 30th, 2022, 08:37 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 61,859
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Juldie
I live in New England and we have had the weather you describe this summer, but I am 10 minutes to the ocean beaches to cool off.
There is no weather in New England remotely like Phoenix in September. I lived in NE for 40 years and now live in Tucson, which is cooler than Phoenix and a whole nother thing
jubilada is offline  
Old Oct 1st, 2022, 07:56 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 24,834
Received 4 Likes on 3 Posts
Out of curiosity, I checked the temps in Phoenix for last week (the OP was arriving 9/23)... Over 100F every day. Oof.
Jean is offline  
Old Oct 5th, 2022, 05:36 AM
  #18  
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 17,990
Received 22 Likes on 4 Posts
In Tucson, during the last horrific heat wave, up to 115, out of staters and Europeans died including doctors attending a conference.
HappyTrvlr is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
artyguy
Africa & the Middle East
1
Aug 21st, 2018 01:40 AM
shoonye
Africa & the Middle East
2
Mar 15th, 2014 01:01 PM
nycer
United States
42
Jul 8th, 2002 06:30 AM
Lisa
Mexico & Central America
6
Apr 29th, 2002 12:21 PM
Sally
United States
6
Apr 25th, 2002 05:15 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -