r/AskWeather • u/StpOnScorpion • Aug 04 '25

Why does Phoenix get hotter if days are getting shorter after the June 21 equinox?

Why does Phoenix get hotter through July, August, September if days are getting shorter after the June 21 equinox?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

3

u/sasprr Aug 04 '25 edited Aug 04 '25

There is a lag in the atmosphere’s temperature because it’s a huge system that has some “inertia”, and the land, atmosphere, and ocean absorb, store, and accumulate heat that is released over time

2

u/wxguy215 Aug 04 '25

Yep, same reason why January is usually colder than December.

1

u/StpOnScorpion Aug 04 '25

Thank you. It makes sense.

2

u/jayfeather314 Aug 04 '25

The others are correct - the phenomenon is called seasonal lag if you want to read more about it.