Phoenix is on track for year’s first 100-degree day before end of week

PHOENIX – Wind, a little rain and lightning will likely collide in metro Phoenix on Tuesday, but all of that will be forgotten by the end of the week when temperatures were expected to reach 100 degrees.

Valley weather experts were predicting the first century-mark temperatures to hit Friday, 101 degrees, barely two weeks after first 90-degree day of 2019.

That’s an understatement – the high was 97 degrees April 8, a jump from 89 the previous day.

It won’t be that dramatic a rise this time. Midweek temperatures include 99 on Thursday and 94 before that.

The earliest Phoenix reached 100 degrees was March 26, 1988; the latest was June 18, 1913.

Here’s your 7-day forecast via @IrisABC15, Arizona’s most accurate forecast. Tune in to @AZMorningNews for the latest weather news: https://t.co/yZGKvZYxqd pic.twitter.com/FL1DJGggDl

— KTAR News 92.3 (@KTAR923) April 23, 2019

But the heat will be a significant leap from early week 80s and the chance of rain.

“There’s not going to be a lot of rainfall,” National Weather Service meteorologist Mark O’Malley told KTAR News 92.3 FM, but thunderstorms could create lighting strikes which could spark wildfires.

O’Malley also said gusty winds would blow through the area in the afternoon.

But Jaret Rogers with the National Weather Service said the majority of the Valley will experience gusty winds throughout Tuesday afternoon into the evening.

“We certainly could see at least some spotty showers this afternoon and evening across the Phoenix area,” Rogers said.

“Given how dry it is, we’re not expecting much rain overall, but it looks like some areas, especially the north Valley, maybe parts of the East Valley, could see the best chances for a little bit of shower or even thunderstorm activity.”

Some blue scattered in there but mostly dark clouds out in the East Valley. #azwx pic.twitter.com/yhQAes4DS2

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) April 23, 2019

Nice sunrise from @ArizonaDEQ camera. All those clouds are a harbinger of showers and thunderstorms that will form over the mountains later today. Only spotty rain/storms around #Phoenix, but strong, gusty winds will be the main threat. #azwx pic.twitter.com/4FWewgSq7Z

— NWS Phoenix (@NWSPhoenix) April 23, 2019

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

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