June 26th, 1990

Do you remember where you were on that date?  If you were in Phoenix AZ, I think you would.  Fortunately for me, it was a day off,  I was living with my (now) ex-wife.  Back then, I was rather skinny, and due to the heat, running around in only a pair of shorts.

This was the day that Phoenix set some all time records for "high heat."  Early afternoon the temperature soared, and at some point I heard on the radio that the airport had been shut down... we were at 122F !!  Seems to me that there were no incoming, or outgoing flights for a few hours.

We have just come somewhat close to repeating that record, though while hitting 119F a few days ago, this year, we skated past that record setting day with only 106F, I believe.  I still feel that it's going to be a long, hot summer, despite it being a "dry heat!"  I also won't be surprised if we have a very wet and productive monsoon season this year...

It was many years later, that I learned the reason for the airport closure.  I'd never heard of "heat" causing travel interruptions...  Apparently, the hotter it gets, the longer the runway needed for a plane to lift off the ground, and the professionals had no guidelines to predict if the runways at Sky Harbor Int'l were long enough...  Also, I learned that jet engines are (or were,) only tested to 121F.  Thus, airport closure, until the temp dropped....

Got to run all, I'm fading fast...  Don't think I'll see the sunrise this morning!  Be well!