ARIZONA NEWS

Weekend could bring Phoenix’s last wave of excessive heat for a while

Sep 8, 2023, 11:59 AM | Updated: 3:14 pm

A jet takes flight as heat ripples radiate from the runway, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Sky Harbor In...

A jet takes flight as heat ripples radiate from the runway, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Sky Harbor International Airport, in Phoenix. An excessive heat warning has been issued for the region for Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10. (AP Photo/Matt York)

(AP Photo/Matt York)

PHOENIX — An excessive heat warning will be in effect for metro Phoenix this weekend, with record temperatures in the short-term forecast.

However, “it’s more than likely” the region will soon see its last 110-degree day of the year, according to the National Weather Service.

The excessive heat warning is set to run from 10 a.m. Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday, and it will be almost as hot Friday and Monday.

Multiple Phoenix heat records are expected to fall in the coming days, including the mark for most 110-degree days in a year.

Phoenix entered Friday with 52 days of at least 110 degrees in 2023, one short of the record set in 2020.

The record was equaled Friday when Phoenix hit 110 degrees at 2:46 p.m. It could be broken on Saturday and extended Sunday and possibly Monday.

In fact, Phoenix was expected to set daily high marks Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

When will Phoenix get break from excessive heat?

While the Valley has had more than its share of extreme heat in 2023, there’s a good chance Sunday or Monday will be Phoenix’s last 110-degree day until next year.

“It’s going to be very difficult to get to 110 beyond this current heat streak,” Chris Kuhlman of the National Weather Service in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Friday morning.

“So, I hate to say, ‘Yes, this will be the last,’ but it’s more than likely that will be the case, this will be our last stretch of 110s this summer.”

Although temperatures are expected to dip next week (yet still in the 100s), the dry conditions will likely persist. There’s a slight chance for showers early in the week, but nothing else resembling rain in the forecast.

“We do have a moisture increase starting Monday into Tuesday, but right now it’s a pretty limited chance, like a 10-20% chance in the Phoenix area on Tuesday,” Kuhlman said.

Sky Harbor International Airport, which the National Weather Service uses for Phoenix’s official readings, has seen just .13 inches of rain during what’s on pace to be the city’s driest monsoon season (June 15-Sept. 30) on record. The previous low was .35 inches in 1924.

Phoenix heat records are nothing new in 2023

It’s been a summer full of extreme heat in Phoenix, including a record stretch of 31 consecutive 110-degree days from June 30 to July 30. The previous mark was 18 days in 1974.

That streak made July in Phoenix the hottest month ever documented in a U.S. city, according to the Arizona State Climate Office.

More recently, Phoenix broke the record for hottest “meteorological summer” (July-August) with an average temperature of 97 degrees. That beat the previous mark of 96.7 degrees set in 2020.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in mid-August declared a state of emergency following more than a month of extreme heat statewide.

Hobbs said then that the declaration would allow the state to reimburse various government entities for funds spent on providing relief from high temperatures.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Jim Cross and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Pass it along to the KTAR News team here.

75° | 50°
52° and mostly cloudy

Arizona News

Arizona congressional races...

KTAR.com

Arizona’s 9 congressional seats are up for grabs; who is winning each race?

One Arizona congressional race remained highly competitive as of Thursday night, while the state's eight other U.S. House contests were pretty much settled.

6 hours ago

The five Maricopa County Board of Supervisors seats were up for grabs during the 2024 election....

KTAR.com

2 Maricopa County supervisor races remain tight, other 3 are blowouts

Two Maricopa County Board of Supervisors races remain too close to call, while the three other contests are blowouts.

6 hours ago

David Schweikert and Amish Shah...

KTAR.com

Incumbent David Schweikert leads Amish Shah in Arizona CD1 race

Republican Rep. David Schweikert held a lead over Democrat Amish Shah in the race for Arizona Congressional District 1 as of Saturday night.

6 hours ago

The winner of the 18th annual wildlife photo contest for Arizona Game and Fish Department was chose...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Winner chosen for 18th annual Arizona Game and Fish Department photo contest

The winner of the 18th annual wildlife photo contest for Arizona Game and Fish Department was chosen out of more than 800 entries.

7 hours ago

Donald Trump is leading Kamala Harris in Arizona's presidential race....

KTAR.com

Donald Trump projected over Kamala Harris in race for president in Arizona

Four years after Donald Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate since 1996 to lose Arizona, he reclaimed the state's 11 electoral votes.

7 hours ago

A Phoenix man was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised probatio...

Roxanne De La Rosa

Phoenix man sentenced to 7 years in prison for assaulting officers

A man was sentenced to seven years in prison followed by three years of supervised probation for assaulting police officers.

8 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Morris Hall

West Hunsaker, through Morris Hall, supports Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona

KTAR’s Community Spotlight this month focuses on Morris Hall and its commitment to supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Arizona.

...

DISC Desert Institute for Spine Care

The best methods to make your back pain disappear for good

Are you struggling with back pain that will not go away?

...

Bright Wealth Management

Here’s how to save money on retirement planning

PHOENIX -- With inflation still going on, people planning on retiring still face many issues on when they can retire and how much money they need to achieve it.

Weekend could bring Phoenix’s last wave of excessive heat for a while