Phoenix has never seen a hot spell like this so late in the year before

A late-season hot spell is setting records across the drought-stricken Southwest, setting the stage for an uptick in fire activity heading into the weekend. Phoenix is normally one of the hottest cities in the United States, but this year has been abnormally hot in the Valley of the Sun. As of Wednesday, Nov. 17, the city has tied or broken daily high-temperature records on 33 occasions, including three times this week. On Monday, Phoenix topped…