As Phoenix locals brace for a shift in weather, the latest updates from the National Weather Service indicate a mix of sunny skies and potential rainfall over the coming days. Following a clear night with lows around 71 degrees, Wednesday will bring a sunny forecast, with temperatures soaring near 100 degrees, and calm winds shifting south in the afternoon.
As the week progresses, Phoenicians can expect a change in conditions starting Wednesday night. There's "a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3am," reported the National Weather Service. With an east wind of around 5 mph, the precipitation probability stands at a mere 20 percent.
The possibility of showers and thunderstorms will continue through Thursday, particularly before 11 a.m., when the chance of precipitation will increase to 30 percent. The forecast suggests mostly cloudy skies with a high near 94 degrees, while the wind, coming from the east northeast at 5 to 10 mph, could bring new rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, though thunderstorms could cause that figure to rise.
Moving into Friday, the likelihood of wet weather remains. The National Weather Service signals "a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms." While the day is expected to be mostly cloudy with another high near 94 degrees, those in Phoenix could see additional rainfall between a tenth and a quarter of an inch, with higher amounts possible during thunderstorms.
As for the weekend, starting Friday night and stretching into Saturday, showers and thunderstorms are "likely," accompanied by mostly cloudy conditions and lows around 75 to 71 degrees, respectively. Come Sunday, there's a slight bend in the forecast towards sunnier weather after the possibility of morning showers, leading into Columbus Day, where the pattern of a 20 percent chance of rain continues under mostly sunny skies.
Residents looking toward the week's end and the following Tuesday, October 13, can expect similar conditions. With sunshine prevailing and a consistent slight chance of rain, temperatures are projected to hover around the low 80s. It's a fluctuating forecast that intertwines clear desert warmth with the unpredictability of thunderstorms, a common refrain for the region this time of year.
