As the scorching Phoenix summer continues, locals can anticipate a slight break in the relentless heat with a chance of showers and thunderstorms heading into the weekend. According to the National Weather Service, there's a 20 percent chance of rain after 4 p.m. today, with temperatures soaring to a high near 111 degrees. Residents can expect the same light breeze to accompany the heat, transitioning from east to south-southwest in the afternoon.

Tonight's forecast includes a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11 p.m., offering some potential respite from the day's swelter. The low temperature is expected to hover around 88 degrees with a gentle south-southwest wind calming as the evening progresses. Moving into Sunday, the National Weather Service suggests a persistent chance of showers in the early morning, diminishing by 11 a.m., temperatures slightly dipping to a high near 106 degrees, and winds making a westerly shift in the afternoon.

Monday and Tuesday promise more predictable conditions with mostly sunny skies, highs around 105 degrees, and light winds. Monday night, however, reminds us that monsoon season is still making its presence known with a 20 percent chance of thunderstorms before 11 p.m.. The weather pattern maintains this familiar rhythm through mid-week, with Wednesday's temperatures peaking at a high near 106 and southwest winds persisting at a mild 5 mph.

Even nighttime offers little relief, as the lows for the coming days will remain in the upper 80s. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy, with temperatures settling around 87 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. The week continues to test Phoenix's heat endurance as Thursday's high is expected to meet 106 degrees once more. Residents will encounter the same conditions as they head into Friday, with sunny skies and another high near 107, the often elusive breeze coming from the west-southwest.

For those in Phoenix, the extended forecast from the National Weather Service indicates a hot and occasionally stormy week ahead. While the chances of rain might cool things off temporarily, the high temperatures leave no doubt that summer in the desert is far from over.