Phoenix was established as a town of 320 acres on the Salt River in October 1870. The name Phoenix was suggested by an Englishman who likened the new town, which had risen up from the dust of the ancient Hohokam civilization, to the legendary Phoenix of Egyptian lore. According to legend, the Phoenix was a bird that, after having lived five or six centuries, was consumed by fire and then rose in youthful freshness from its own ashes. Today, metropolitan Phoenix has a combined population of nearly three million. Phoenix is located near the center of the Salt River Valley, which is broad, oval-shaped, and nearly flat. The River runs from east to west through the valley and is usually dry because of upstream dams which impound much of the area's water supply. Phoenix is ringed by the Salt River Mountains to the south, the Phoenix Mountains to the north-northwest, the Estrella Mountains to the southwest, and the White Tank Mountains to the west. The Superstition Mountains of Lost Dutchman fame are about forty miles east and rise to 4600 feet msl.

Phoenix is the seventh largest city in the U.S. and is a world-renowned resort area with many fine hotels, restaurants, and shopping areas. The area hosts the spring training camps for the San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubs, Seattle Mariners, Oakland Athletics, and Milwaukee Brewers. Phoenix is home for the NFL Cardinals, the NBA Suns, and the NHL Coyotes. In April, 1998, the major league baseball team, The Arizona Diamondbacks, began its innagrual season. Intercollegiate sports of all kinds are played locally. Arizona State University, a member of the Pacific 10 Conference, hosts the annual Fiesta Bowl which is held in its Sun Devil Stadium.

Visit the Tempe Chamber of Commerce at: http://www.tempe.gov/

CLIMATE: Phoenix summers are hot with maximum temperatures averaging above 100§. Humidity during the July-August monsoon is also high and uncomfortable when combined with the high temperatures. However, winter maximum tempera- tures average about 64§ during the coldest periods. Winter minimum temperatures are occasionally below freezing. January, July, August and December are the months when Phoenix receives most of its annual normal 7.66 inches of precipitation. Spring and fall are the dry seasons and offer the most fabulous weather on earth!

RECREATION: Within 125 miles of Phoenix are many man-made lakes for boating, water-skiing, and fishing. In the winter you can frolic in the snow on the heavily timbered Mogollon Rim or White Mountains. Snow skiing is available near Flagstaff, in the White Mountains, and on Mt. Lemon near Tucson. The metropolitan area contains many, varied recreational facilities including numerous golf courses and parks.

EDUCATIONAL FACILITIES: In addition to many public and parochial primary and secondary schools, the Phoenix area offers the Arizona State University, Grand Canyon University, Phoenix College, the American Graduate School of International Management, the University of Phoenix, and the Community Colleges of Glendale, Mesa and Scottsdale. Also there are many technical and vocational schools throughout the metropolitan area. Virtually all primary and secondary schools in the area are built "outward" rather than "upward" with rather large campuses.

HOUSING: Housing is readily available in the Phoenix area with the median sales price for a new home of $164,500. Resale homes have a median price of $116,000. There is also a ready supply of houses, apartments, condominiums and townhouses to rent. The gross monthly rent for apartments averages $555 to $650. Apartments generally are more scarce and rents higher during the "snowbird" season of November through April. Most NWS employees live in the Mesa-Tempe-Chandler area as well as in Phoenix.

TAXES: There is a state sales tax of 5% and a city/county sales tax averaging 2% on virtually all items. Real estate taxes vary depending upon the school district, but average approximately 1% of the assessed value of the property. There is a Lieu Tax on vehicles that is proportional to the assessed value of the vehicle. State income tax averages between 4% and 7% of taxable income.

TRANSPORTATION: Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport is the eleventh busiest airport in the nation servicing 27 million air passengers. It is a major hub for both America West and Southwest airlines. It is also served by virtually all other major air carriers including: Air Canada, AeroMexico, Alaska, American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest, TWA, and United airlines. In addition to these, there are a number of "commuter" airlines serving Sky Harbor as well. There are also 11 other small airports in the area.

Local transportation consists of taxis, vans, limousine service and public bus service. The bus service in the metropolitan area is at best average for a large city. However, this mass transit system serves only an extremely small portion of the local population.

STATION PROGRAM: This includes state and zone forecasts; watches and warnings; aviation forecasts and observations; hydrologic services and fire weather forecasts; four NOAA Weather Radios; two Doppler radars; and a substation network of over 65 stations.

In May 1991 the WSFO moved to quarters located within the corporate headquarters of the Salt River Project (SRP), a local water and power utility. The "embedded WSO" staff remained at Sky Harbor Airport to continue the surface observing program until September, 1995. At that time, the WSO staff joined the NWSFO in the SRP facility.