Phoenix is starting Wednesday near 81 degrees, but the city is headed for another triple-digit afternoon before a much cooler, stormier pattern moves in this weekend. The forecast calls for sunny skies and a high near 101, followed by 102 on Thursday and 100 on Friday.
The National Weather Service Phoenix office describes winds through Thursday as generally light and diurnally driven. Winds increase Friday, with east winds potentially gusting to 25 mph. Rain chances remain essentially absent through Friday, so the workweek closes with classic hot, dry desert weather.
Triple-Digit Heat Holds Through Friday
Afternoon temperatures will run well above normal across the Valley, with the hottest stretch arriving Thursday. Outdoor plans are still possible, but the combination of 100-degree heat and very dry afternoon air will make shade, water and an earlier start especially useful for anyone spending time outside.
The real break from the heat arrives Saturday, when the high is expected to fall to about 94 and rain chances may increase Saturday afternoon.
Rain Chances Peak Sunday Into Monday
Rain chances are expected to peak Sunday into Monday.
Sunday looks considerably cooler and wetter, with a high near 89, a 40% chance of showers and thunderstorms, and wind gusts reaching up to 25 mph. Storm chances remain high Sunday night and Monday, when the high may only reach 84 and rainfall could total between a quarter-inch and half-inch in some spots.
Cooler Weather Carries Into Next Week
The unsettled pattern may linger into Tuesday, which is forecast to be mostly sunny with a high near 82. That sharper turn from sunny triple digits to storm chances and 80s updates the broader weekend shift outlined in Hoodline's Tuesday forecast.
For Phoenix residents, the takeaway is straightforward: plan for dangerous-feeling heat through Friday, then keep an eye on changing skies and gusty winds from Saturday through Monday.
