A small desert town has stolen the unwanted title of hottest city in the United States for the month of July.
With an average temperature of 103.2 degrees Fahrenheit, Needles in California even surpassing Phoenix, Arizona, which held the previous record.
The Arizona State Climate Office officially recognized Needles’ astonishing achievement, jokingly welcoming the city, along with Palm Springs and Blythe, into the exclusive club of cities with average monthly temperatures above 50 degrees.
The mayor of the town, which has only 5,200 inhabitants, was not the least bit surprised.
We probably did it [beat the record]“pretty easy,” said Jan Jernigan, adding that the area has adapted to the less-than-stellar climate by holding events early in the morning.
The small desert town of Needles, California has claimed an unwanted title: the hottest city in the United States in the month of July
With an average temperature of 103 degrees Fahrenheit, Needles, with a population of just 5,200, even surpassed Phoenix, Arizona, which held the previous record.
To combat the heat, food distribution activities begin at 5am and end at 8am, before the heat becomes too unbearable to function.
The city has embraced the temperatures and accepted the cheers, with newcomers receiving a fun gift of spicy candies with the text ‘Needles is Red Hot’.
To escape the scorching sun, locals and tourists flock to the Colorado River, where Needles has three beaches.
‘You have [got to] “They’re up to their waists in the Colorado River,” said City Manager Patrick Martinez.
The city has invested $8.4 million in improving its waterfront areas, including parks and infrastructure, to improve the quality of life for its residents.
Beach clean-ups are also being carried out to reduce the risk of future forest fires.
The intense heat has brought challenges, however. In late June, a wildfire near Needles burned 70 acres and destroyed one building before crossing into Arizona, burning 143 acres.
To escape the relentless heat, locals and tourists flock to the Colorado River, where Needles has three beaches
The fire was exacerbated by the drought caused by high temperatures, with fires burning 30 times as many acres in the state last year.
To combat the extreme heat, Needles has opened a senior center where residents can find cooling and water.
This community centre is equipped with a generator so it can remain open during power outages, protecting vulnerable residents from heat-related illnesses.
While recent infrastructure improvements are significant, Mayor Jernigan stressed that the city “still has a long way to go” in its efforts to adapt to the increasingly severe climate.
