Having lived some 40+ years in So. Calif. along the beach and 20 miles inland, it's very rare anyone has AC, and inland there are 'some' who do, but not many! They go out on their covered porches and try to catch a slight breeze coming from the nearby mtns, but when the AZ heat moves in from the east, it's HOT for a few days, but rarely lasts longer. This summer may be a bit more intense as I don't remember this kind of heat this early...! being dryer, it's more tolerable than with any humidity also added to the mix!! ie, "it's a dry heat!" haha
I can believe that; here, it can get pretty hot in April and May, but the humidity is much lower than later in the summer, so it's a lot more tolerable to be outdoors. Late September and early October are also very nice; warm days, cool nights, because the humidity is so low.
I just went out to get the mail, and MY GAWD it's unbearable out there. 92 today, and humid, but the humidity is just gonna get worse, till sometime around the end of August. ATL has 2 seasons -- rain and hell. In the winter, sometimes those 2 combine -- ice-storms.
Andria