Extreme Heat Warning Covers Phoenix As Temperatures Climb Above 115

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix is headed into its hottest stretch of the year, with an extreme heat warning taking effect Tuesday morning across the lower deserts as temperatures climb toward 115 degrees and higher.

The National Weather Service in Phoenix issued the warning early Monday, covering Tuesday through Thursday.

Highs across the lower deserts, including Phoenix, Yuma and El Centro, are expected to reach 111 to 116 degrees during that stretch, with overnight lows staying in the low to mid 80s for most of the region and potentially hitting 90 degrees in the Phoenix area.

The warning runs from 10 a.m. Tuesday to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Temperatures are already climbing. Monday’s highs are expected to reach around or just over 110 degrees before rising closer to 115 starting Tuesday.

The peak of the heat is forecast for Wednesday, when highs could reach 112 to 116 degrees. The weather service said temperatures will ease only slowly after that, with Friday still approaching major heat risk levels, especially over western desert areas where highs near 115 degrees may linger.

Strengthening high pressure over the Desert Southwest is driving the heat. The same pattern is also keeping rain chances limited for most of the region through much of the week.

Isolated storms are possible over eastern Arizona high terrain, and gusty outflow winds from those storms could reach the Phoenix area Tuesday evening, forecasters said.

The heat is expected to ease heading into next weekend as winds shift east-southeasterly and pull moisture into the region.

Shower and thunderstorm chances are expected to increase from east to west as that moisture spreads in, with the best chance of reaching the lower deserts sometime early next week. The weather service said the timing remains uncertain.