Halloween treat: Metro Phoenix temperatures dipping to seasonal levels

PHOENIX – The Phoenix area is finally getting fall-like temperatures, a full month after the season of pumpkin spice officially arrived.

“We’re looking at a cooling trend as a low-pressure system passes across Arizona starting today, and that’s going to just bring some breezy and cooler air into the region,” Matt Salerno of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday morning.

Monday’s forecast calls for a high of 89 degrees in Phoenix – which would be the city’s first sub-90 day since Oct. 3 and just the fourth since fall started Sept. 23.

Temperatures will be much closer to seasonal levels all week with highs reaching the mid 80s and lows in the upper 50s to mid 60s around the Phoenix Metro area and surrounding deserts. Enjoy the nice weather! #azwx pic.twitter.com/yChnYXujF2

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) October 23, 2023

Temperatures are expected to peak in the mid-80s for the rest of the week.

“We’re looking at highs more in line with what we should typically see for late October,” Salerno said.

Salerno said temperatures could dip again over the weekend and early week, so Halloween partygoers and trick-or-treaters won’t have to worry about overheating in their costumes.

How many days has it reached 100 degrees in Phoenix in 2023?

The cooling trend comes after a seven-day streak of days reaching 100 degrees in Phoenix ended Sunday, when the mercury topped out at 98. The triple-digit stretch included two daily high temperature records.

Barring an unexpected flareup, Phoenix will finish the year with 133 days at 100 degrees or hotter, third on the all-time list. Only 2020 (145 days) and 1989 (143) had more, according to National Weather Service records, which date back to 1895.

Will the cooler air bring rain to Phoenix?

The Valley skies are expected to remain clear for the foreseeable future, extending a dry spell that started in the final weeks of the driest monsoon season on record.

“There could be some rain in southeast and eastern Arizona, however, it’s going to remain east of Phoenix,” Salerno said. “So, we’re going to stay dry here for a little while yet.”

Sept. 12 was the last time precipitation was detected at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, site of the National Weather Service’s official readings for the city.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross contributed to this report.

Follow @kstonezone