Katie Hobbs is declaring a heat state of emergency -- but for only three of Arizona's 15 counties. And it all has to do with the National Weather Service and how it determines "excessive heat." The declaration issued Friday for Maricopa, Pinal and Coconino counties is based on the federal agency issued excessive heat warnings for 30 consecutive days. But Sean Benedict, lead meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said a decision to issue an excessive heat warning is based on more than absolute temperatures. Hobbs on Friday issued a separate executive order requiring various state agencies to develop plans for future excessive heat situations.

Source: Daily Sun August 15, 2023 17:17 UTC