May 21, 1980
The ice broke on the Santa Cruz River in traditional Tucson style when the mercury hit 100 degrees at 4:30 yesterday afternoon. At 5:15, a sizzling 101 set a record for the date.
National Weather Service officials said the heat is normal for this time of year, and that last year's high of 71 degrees on same date was one of nature's unseasonal quirks.
The previous record high of 100 degrees for May 20 was set in 1963.
The combination of the high temperature and low 6 percent humidity was disconcerting to Thomas Craig, a newcomer from Idaho who was baking like one of his home state's potatoes in front of a Congress Street magazine stand. "It's so hot," be said, "only one side of my tongue is wet."
Old-timers were quick to warn him that it will get hotter before it gets much cooler.
