Huzzah! Glory awaits the seer of first 100-degree day

It’s time. There is no getting around it. It is coming and it will not be denied.

So you might as well try to get some fun out of the season’s first officially hot day in the annual Great Big and Large Valley 101 Guess the First 100 Degree Day contest.

Successfully pick the date, hour and minute the official thermometer at Sky Harbor International Airport hits 100 degrees for the first time this year and you will be hailed as a genius, feted around town and hoisted on the shoulders of your fellow citizens in a gala torch-lit parade.

Not really, but you will win four tickets to a Diamondbacks game later this season.

The usual rules apply: You get three guesses of the date, hour and minute. Please do not try to improve your odds by entering in the name of your infant child, parakeet or dead uncle. Your perfidy will eventually be found out and you will be revealed as a scoundrel and poltroon.

The deadline for entries is noon Wednesday, April 18.

Send your entries one by one to clay.thompson@arizonarepublic.com. Just your guess, name and daytime phone.

If you have something else on your mind send me a separate note.

Or mail them on a postcard or the back of an envelope to:

First 100, Valley 101, Arizona Republic, 200 E. Van Buren, Phoenix AZ 85004.

A few hints: The average date for the first 100-degree day from 1981 to 2010 is May 2. The earliest 100-degree day was March 26, 1988 and the latest first occurance was June 18, 1913.

Now I know you people.

You’re going to fire off the first three wild guesses that come to mind, aren’t you?

Slow down. Give it some thought. You might even get it right. I doubt it, but who knows?

Have a question for Clay? Reach him at 602-444-8612 or clay.thompson@ari zonarepublic.com.