October 22, 2015 / Modified oct 22, 2015 9:14 a.m.

2015 May Be Hottest Year on Record in Arizona and Globally

Night-time and winter temperatures in the state run higher than normal, readings show.

AZ Wilderness Sunset SPOT
AZPM



Amanda Solliday, Arizona Science Desk.

Meteorologists say 2015 could be the hottest on record globally. In Arizona, the biggest impact is coming in winter and when the sun is not shining. Hear more:

Arizona's daily high temperatures have been warm this year, so far ranking in the top 10 since record keeping began in 1895. But it is the low temperatures and cooler season readings that may make it a record year, meteorologists said.

Meteorologist Ken Waters with the National Weather Service in Phoenix said that recent overnight low temperatures have broken records recently for how high they are. January through September ranked first in the highest minimum temperatures ever recorded for that nine-month period in Arizona.

Climatologist Nancy Selover said the state is also seeing a winter warming trend.

“We have had fewer winter storms, and that means we don’t have as much cloudiness and cold air," Selover said. "So we’re having clear skies, sunny conditions, and that leads to warmer temperatures in the winter.”

With the warm-moisutre weather phenomenon El Niño forecast for this winter, temperatures could remain high, meteorologists said. Polar winds from the north would help keep temperatures down over the winter months if there is a shift on the upper atmosphere.

By posting comments, you agree to our
AZPM encourages comments, but comments that contain profanity, unrelated information, threats, libel, defamatory statements, obscenities, pornography or that violate the law are not allowed. Comments that promote commercial products or services are not allowed. Comments in violation of this policy will be removed. Continued posting of comments that violate this policy will result in the commenter being banned from the site.

By submitting your comments, you hereby give AZPM the right to post your comments and potentially use them in any other form of media operated by this institution.
AZPM is a service of the University of Arizona and our broadcast stations are licensed to the Arizona Board of Regents who hold the trademarks for Arizona Public Media and AZPM. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples.
The University of Arizona