Environment
A Reality Check on the Hottest Times of Year Across America
Mapping when temperatures hit the max all over the U.S.
As the sun beats down ever harder, turning 'pits and brows into squelchy geysers for sweat, it's time to ask: Is this the hottest day of the year?
If you happen to live in the Southwest, the answer is "possibly yes." Temperatures typically spike in southern New Mexico and Arizona and western Texas during the latter half of June, right before the monsoon season rolls in with its majestic haboobs. Residents of Phoenix and Albuquerque can usually look forward to the rest of the summer cooling off, thanks to the appearance of more clouds and rain (though with the ongoing drought, who knows if that will happen in 2014).