First 100 Degree (“Icebreak”) Days in Tucson
The first 100 degree day each year is a special event in Tucson.
Icebreak Days
From 1983-2006, local news station KVOA 4 ran a promotion called the Icebreak Contest. The name refers to "the first day the ice breaks" on the Santa Cruz River. The person who correctly guessed the time that the temperature would first hit 100 degrees that year won prizes. Due to a lack of sponsorship, KVOA ended the contest in 2006. The contest was resurrected in 2011.
| Year | Date | Time |
| 2012 | Apr 22 | 1:51 p.m. |
| 2011 | May 27 | 3:23 p.m. |
| 2010 | May 28 | 2:53 p.m. |
| 2009 | May 7 | 1:53 p.m. |
| 2008 | May 19 | 12:10 p.m. |
| 2007 | May 11 | 1:44 p.m. |
| 2006 | May 21 | 3:24 p.m. |
| 2005 | May 20 | 12:43 p.m. |
| 2004 | June 1 | 2:00 p.m. |
| 2003 | May 17 | 12:48 p.m. |
| 2002 | May 13 | 2:58 p.m. |
| 2001 | May 8 | 12:36 p.m. |
| 2000 | May 14 | 4:58 p.m. |
| 1999 | May 28 | 1:58 p.m. |
| 1998 | June 2 | 1:05 p.m. |
| 1997 | May 29 | 1:49 p.m. |
| 1996 | May 11 | 12:15 p.m. |
| 1995 | May 21 | 2:14 p.m. |
| 1994 | May 15 | 2:19 p.m. |
| 1993 | May 11 | 12:15 p.m. |
| 1992 | April 27 | 12:32 p.m. |
| 1991 | May 25 | 2:13 p.m. |
| 1990 | May 23 | 12:52 p.m. |
| 1989 | April 19 | 3:00 p.m. |
| 1988 | May 11 | 12:01 p.m. |
| 1987 | June 2 | 4:00 p.m. |
| 1986 | May 19 | 1:41 p.m. |
| 1985 | June 6 | 12:59 p.m. |
| 1984 | May 9 | 2:36 p.m. |
| 1983 | May 23 | 2:00 p.m. |
100 Degree Days
Historical records for the first annual 100 degree day from 1895-present are available from the National Weather Service at http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/Tucson100s/Tucson100s_1st100.php. (No times are made available.) This source also includes current data for the average first occurence of 100 degree temperatures, as well as updated earliest and latest occurrence records.
Sources:
“100-day streak ends 2 short of mark.” Arizona Daily Star July 21, 2007. Page B5. Inside Tucson Business.
"Ice Break Contest canceled due to lack of interest." May 1, 2006. Page 15.
"National Weather Service - NWS Tucson." National Weather Service - Western Region Headquarters.http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/twc/climate/Tucson100s/Tucson100s_1st100.php (accessed March 23, 2013).
“Ready or not, here come the 100s". Tucson Citizen. May 7, 2009. Page. 1.
"The Icebreak Sweepstakes is back! | KVOA.com | Tucson, Arizona Home. http://www.kvoa.com/news/the-icebreak-sweepstakes-is-back-/ (accessed March 23, 2013).
“Tucson hit 100 degrees around noon Monday.” Arizona Daily Star. May 20, 2008. Page B5.