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Phoenix-area Temperatures Expected To Remain Above Average For Rest Of Week

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The Average Body Temperature Is No Longer 98.6 Degrees, Study Shows

Think 98.6 degrees is the norm when it comes to body temperature? Not quite so, according to a new study.

Stanford Medicine researchers say body temperatures range from person to person. Factors that influence body temperature include sex, age, weight and height, to name a few. It also goes up and down throughout the day, the researchers say.

"Most people, including many doctors, still think that everyone's normal temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. In fact what's normal depends on the person and the situation, and it's rarely as high as 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit," said Julie Parsonnet, MD, a professor of medicine and of epidemiology and population health at Stanford. She authored the research that came out on Sept. 5 in JAMA Internal Medicine.

What is the current average body temperature?

Every decade since the 19th century, the average American's body temperature has declined from 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit by 0.05 degrees Fahrenheit. That's probably because we have better living conditions now than in the past, which reduces inflammation, and therefore body temperature. Nowadays, most people have an average body temperature closer to 97.9 degrees Fahrenheit.

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So, where did the 98.6-degree figure come from? Data published in 1868 from a German doctor who collected temperatures from about 25,000 people. He reported a range of temperatures in the group saying that men and older adults had lower readings than women and young adults. Temperatures tended to run higher in the afternoons. But the average was 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit… and here we are.

In future studies, Dr. Parsonnet said she's interested in examining personalized definitions of fever and whether having a consistently higher or lower normal temperature affects life expectancy.

"There's a lot of temperature data in the world, so there's a lot of opportunity to actually learn something about it," she said.

What temperature is classified as a fever?

It's important to know what constitutes a medical-grade fever—that's anything over 100.4º F, naturopathic doctor Leah Gordon, ND, tells Motherly in a separate interview.

Anything below that temperature is not considered to be a "true" fever. It's also good to know that not all fevers need to be treated with fever-reducing medication, especially if you or your child are still sleeping and eating relatively normally.

The following body temperatures suggest a fever in adults:

at least 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is a fever

above 103.1 degrees Fahrenheit is a high fever

above 105.8 degrees Fahrenheit is a very high fever

The average body temperature in a newborn is about 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit. The average body temp for a child is about 97.52 degrees, and a temp above 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is a fever. If your baby is younger than 3 months old and has a fever over 100.4º F, or if your child of any age has a fever reaching 104º F or a history of febrile seizures, call your child's pediatrician for advice.

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No Fall Fun: Phoenix Sets Daily Heat Record As Temperature Climbs To Triple Digits

PHOENIX — Summer is officially gone but the heat just isn't going away in Phoenix as a daily heat record was set Monday.

The temperature reached 103 degrees at about 2 p.M. On Monday, surpassing the previous mark of 102 degrees set in 2020.

The mercury got as high as 105 degrees, making it the latest for the mark in a year in Phoenix history.

How many times has Phoenix reached 100 degrees this year?

Phoenix has now reached the century mark 128 times in 2023. That's the most in a year since 2020, when the mercury hit at least 100 a record 145 times. (The National Weather Service started keeping records for Phoenix in 1895.)

With Oct. 27 the latest 100 degrees has ever been recorded in Phoenix, the record appears safe. But there's a chance 2023 will finish as high as third on the list.

Here are the 10 years with the most 100-degree days in Phoenix (through Monday):

1. 2020: 145

2. 1989: 143

3. 2003: 129

T-4. 2018: 128

T-4. 2023: 128

6. 2001: 127

7. 1988: 122

8. 1992: 120

9. 2000: 119

10. 2009: 118

Will the weather cool in Phoenix any time soon?

It's not looking promising this week for a fall cooldown in town.

Tuesday's high is expected to be 99 degrees, with Wednesday's high forecast at 98 degrees before a return to triple digits on Thursday with 100 degrees.

Friday could also see 100 degrees before a slight cooldown to 98 degrees on Saturday and 95 degrees on Sunday.

Phoenix was also a degree off from setting its record high for a low temperature for the day at 74 degrees on Monday.

Low temperatures all weekend are expected to hover right around 70 degrees.

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