After possible overnight showers, Phoenix could experience ‘historic’ March heat wave

PHOENIX – The latest Valley forecast calls for overnight showers followed by a potentially “historic” heat wave.

Sean Benedict, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Phoenix, said the best chances for precipitation from an approaching low-pressure system will be late Monday or early Tuesday.

“We’ll see scattered showers with some embedded thunderstorms moving up into the area,” Benedict told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday morning.

Areas hit by thunderstorms could see winds up to 35 mph, hail and brief downpours, he added.

Valley temperatures are expected to reach the upper 70s to mid-80s on Monday and Tuesday before a heat wave settles in.

How hot will it get during Phoenix heat wave?

“We’re looking at a historic area of high pressure over the Southwest and historic temperatures as a result,” Benedict said.

Phoenix can expect a stretch of highs in the lower to mid-90s starting Thursday, with potential records daily into next week.

In fact, Benedict said Phoenix could approach triple digits by the middle of next week, something quite rare for this time of year.

“It’s only happened once that Phoenix has hit 100 degrees in March,” he said.

Phoenix already broke daily heat records two times in March.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Kellen Shover contributed to this report.

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