World's Apart, Thermally

by Nick Coons
Jun 2, 2004

We spent the day in Sedona this past Sunday, and even though we were just here about a month prior, it seemed like so much time had passed. Probably because of the dramatic temperature change. During our vacation over a month ago, the temperature was very moderate during both the daytime and night. During that month, the weather in Phoenix kept rising drastically.

The main reason for the trip this time was business, not pleasure; but how can you not mix them in a place like this. Once we finished with our meeting, it was time to find a place for dinner. We headed uptown but couldn't find anything of interest. While pulling out of the parking lot, it appeared that making a left-turn would be much too difficult because of the oncoming traffic, so I made a right-turn instead with the intention of making a U-turn at the first opening.

This was a big mistake. For some reason, which is still a mystery to me now, 89A was backed up for literally miles. There was not a single opening available. By this time, we realized that not only would it be difficult to make a U-turn, but that even if we did we'd be stuck in traffic for a very long time. So we continued north up in to Flagstaff, and found The Flagstaff Brewing Co.

We sat outside to enjoy our meal hoping that it would be more comfortable, and for a time it was. But very quickly the temperature dropped and it became colder than I ever imagined possible in Arizona

Arizona	(air-i'-ZON-u')
The State of Arizona comprises the extreme south-western portion of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by California and Nevada.

at the end of May. While I don't have any information as to the actual temperature at that time, I do believe that it was in the low 60s or high 50s.

And at this point, I wanted to bottle-up the coldness and bring it with me back to Phoenix. But this was a mere dream, because as we made our way back to the valley, even after only an hour, I could feel the temperature start to rise again. In fact, as I write this, the current temperature difference between Flagstaff and Phoenix is 46 degrees. It makes me wonder what the record temperature difference between the two cities might be, or the record temperature difference between any two Arizona

Arizona	(air-i'-ZON-u')
The State of Arizona comprises the extreme south-western portion of the United States. It is bounded on the north by Utah, on the east by New Mexico, on the south by Mexico, and on the west by California and Nevada.

cities on the same day, for that matter.