As Phoenicians prepare for an oncoming wave of dry desert heat, the local weather forecast for Phoenix, AZ, sourced from the National Weather Service, offers them little respite. Today's temperature is expected to rise to a blistering 106 degrees, with a light movement of air shifting from calm to a west-southwest flow at about 5 mph in the afternoon. The city's inhabitants are accustomed to the heat, but the steady climb in degrees underscores the relentless nature of a Southwestern summer.
The evening offers a modest cooldown, with temperatures dipping to around 80 degrees. The coming days promise more of the same: Clear skies are projected alongside climbing temperatures, reaching a high near 108 tomorrow and culminating in what could be a sweltering 113 degrees by Sunday. These specifics were last updated early this morning, maintaining an expectation of calm winds that seem to provide little relief from the overarching inferno.
Looking ahead to early next week, the National Weather Service reports that Monday will be sunny and just as unforgiving, with the mercury possibly touching 112 degrees. As Phoenix residents navigate their routines, they do so under a sky reluctant to offer clouds, a resolute blue expanse extending day after relentless day. After sunset, temperatures are forecasted to lower to around 82 degrees, suggesting nights will be as much about seeking coolness as the days are about avoiding the sun's zenith.
As of now, the prolonged heatwave appears to be unyielding, stretching into midweek with forecasts predicting a high of 109 degrees for Wednesday. The nights may bring the city's only sigh of relief, with the thermometer expected to fall slightly to 81. Even the commemoration of Juneteenth won't see a break in the pattern, with an anticipated high to flirt with 111 degrees, adding a layer of solemnity to a day already heavy with history and reflection.
