On one afternoon last week, five hikers from different groups received assistance to make their way down Sedona’s hiking trails.
Paul Wick with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said most Sedona trails are less than 5,000 feet in elevation, which explains why temperatures soar.
“Once you get on that trail, it can feel a lot hotter because of the sun. And there’s not a lot of shade that — the red dirt and the red rocks, you know, they get really hot if you’ve ever been out there during these hot days," Wick said.
Wick said hikers should study their routes, plan to go early and have plenty of water in case an unexpected turn extends the duration of the hike.
Latest on Arizona heat
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The National Weather Service has issued an extreme heat watch for the Phoenix area Monday through Wednesday. -
Schools across Arizona are starting back up for the year. Some start this week, while others have already been in class for a few days already. And despite the relative cooldown to start this week, it’s still plenty hot out. -
In the future, Phoenix will not only see more intense high temperatures, but longer heat seasons, climate projections show. -
On the hottest days, thinner air can make it harder for aircraft to get off the ground safely. Airlines may have to lighten the load by removing passengers or cargo, or carrying less fuel. -
Americans are increasingly feeling a personal impact from extreme heat, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
