Make Sure You Keep Cool This Year

The year was 1962. John F. Kennedy was president. A gallon of gasoline cost 20 cents. A loaf of bread and a 16-ounce bottle of Coca-Cola each cost a dime.

And, in Arizona, Valley residents got more than their money's worth when it came to handling the heat. In fact, they experienced the state's hottest August ever - until this past month.

August 2011 is now the hottest August on record since 1896, the first year that weather records were kept in Arizona, according to the National Weather Service.

Average high temperatures for the month were 109 degrees, surpassing those from nearly a half century ago when they were 107.3 degrees, and seven daily high temperatures were tied or broken during the 31 days of August with Aug. 26 being the hottest day of the month in history at 117 degrees.

The average low for August was 87.5 degrees, according to James Sawtelle, meteorologist for the National Weather Service.

An excessive heat advisory warning residents that it could be 110 degrees or hotter began on Aug. 22 and was in place for 11 days until it was cancelled on Friday morning. For five straight days - Aug. 22-26 - the temperatures were 113 or higher.

And, between Aug. 22 and Aug. 31, except for Aug. 28, it was 110 or hotter. On Aug. 28, the high was 107.