Temperatures Plunge Below Normal In Phoenix During Rare June Cooldown

PHOENIX, AZ — Phoenix is trading its typical late-June scorch for something unusual this week: temperatures running well below normal through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Phoenix.

Afternoon highs in the lower deserts are forecast to stay in the 95 to 103 degree range Monday, then ease to between 90 and 101 degrees Tuesday and Wednesday.

Morning lows will feel just as unusual, dipping into the 60s and 70s, 7 to 13 degrees below normal for late June. A deep Pacific trough sitting over the western United States is driving the cooldown, pulling atmospheric heights well below typical levels for this time of year.

For residents used to triple-digit heat, it's a welcome pause in the usual summer pattern.

But the break from the heat isn't the story this week. The same weather pattern is ramping up fire danger, especially across Arizona's higher terrain.

Breezy to locally windy conditions are expected through Tuesday, with afternoon and evening gusts of 25 to 35 mph possible in higher terrain east of Phoenix.

Very low humidity is compounding the risk, the weather service said. Levels are expected to hold in the 6 to 15% range through Tuesday, then drop further to 5 to 10% by Wednesday. Paired with dry fuels across the landscape, those conditions make it easy for fires to start and quick for them to grow.

Overnight humidity isn't expected to recover much either, leaving little relief for vegetation and keeping fire risk elevated into Thursday night. Winds should gradually taper off later in the week, which will ease one part of the threat even as dry conditions persist.

Don't get too comfortable, though. A more typical summer pattern is set to return by the weekend, as high pressure builds back into the region and pushes temperatures up.

By next weekend, afternoon highs are expected to climb back above normal, into the 105 to 110 degree range.

No rain is in the forecast through the weekend, so dry conditions will stick around even as winds die down and fire risk eases.

For Phoenix-area residents, enjoy the cooler air while it lasts. The hotter, calmer weather is already on its way back.