Is Phoenix experiencing its hottest summer ever? Here's what experts say.

Summer temperatures have been sweltering and experts say this year's average temperatures are on track to break last year's record for Phoenix's hottest summer ever.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix has tracked the Valley's high and low temperatures, from June 1 to July 9, to determine that this year may be Phoenix's hottest summer ever. According to the Weather Service, the Valley's average temperature this summer, so far, has been 99.9 degrees, nearly three degrees above last year's average of 97 degrees.

"It's a combination of our nighttime temperatures and daytime," said meteorologist Sean Benedict. "Daytime temperatures have been well above normal for June and early July, and the morning lows have definitely contributed as well. We've had a lot of 90-plus-degree lows."

This summer, Phoenix has seen 23 days of excessive heat and the nighttime lows have been consistently above average as well, Benedict said. Last year, the Valley's record was set with 55 days of temperatures at or above 110 degrees.

The Weather Service reports that this summer Phoenix has recorded 16 days of nighttime temperatures above 90 degrees.

June has already set the record for Phoenix's all-time hottest June, breaking 2021's record. This June, the average temperature was 97 degrees, two degrees hotter than June 2021.

ASU Climatologist Erinanne Saffell said June's record highs have set Phoenix up for a wet monsoon season.

"One of the things that we understand is, if we're really hot in June, that can help set up the monsoon season," said Saffell. "One of the problems we had last summer was that it was cold in June, so we didn't set up our monsoon season and thus average temperatures stayed high in July."

According to both Benedict and Saffell, residents can expect monsoon storms in the next few weeks. This much needed precipitation will contribute to cooling down both the daytime and night temperatures.

To battle the high temperatures, Saffell also suggests residents plant trees around their homes.

"One of the things that you can do with your own backyard, your own house, is putting up trees that are appropriate for the desert environment to block some of that sunlight from coming in," said Saffell.

"If you can block some of that sunlight from reaching your house, then it's not going to get as hot during the day, or not as hot at night."

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Experts say Phoenix is on track to break records for hottest summer