PHOENIX — An early-August metro Phoenix heat wave is expected to continue throughout the workweek, with more record-setting highs in the forecast.
“We’re looking at temperatures for the next several days upwards of 110 degrees, but the worst will come on Wednesday and Thursday,” Mark O’Malley of the National Weather Service (NWS) in Phoenix told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday morning. “Looking for temperatures throughout the metro above 115 degrees and pretty much breaking records for those days.”
The Phoenix daily record for Wednesday of 114 degrees was first set in 1995. Meanwhile, Thursday’s heat record of 112 degrees dates all the way back to 1905. Both days’ marks have been matched over time, but they will be shattered if the forecast holds up.
“We’re looking at temperatures about 116 or 117 degrees on those days,” O’Malley said.
Phoenix already broke one longstanding heat record this month when it hit 114 degrees Saturday at Sky Harbor International Airport, which the NWS uses for the city’s official readings. The previous mark for Aug. 2 of 113 degrees was originally set in 1918.
How long will metro Phoenix heat wave last?
After a relatively mild July, the ongoing metro Phoenix heat wave started on the first day of August.
An extreme heat warning went into effect that day and was originally scheduled to run for two days. But it was extended for six more days — through this coming Friday — due to persistent high temperatures.
“By the end of the week, we’ll look at temperatures retreating a little bit — back closer to to about 110 degrees (but) still a little bit above normal for this time of year,” O’Malley said.
He added that any monsoon storm activity in the coming week is expected to stay over the mountains of eastern Arizona, leaving the Valley dry. July 2 is the last time measurable rain fell at Sky Harbor.
Arizona’s extreme heat can be deadly
Arizona officials have been urging residents and visitors to take the potentially deadly heat seriously.
Due to the elevated risk, the following Phoenix hiking trails are restricted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on extreme heat warning days:
- Camelback Mountain: Echo Canyon Trail and Cholla trail.
- Phoenix Mountains Preserve: Piestewa Peak Summit Trail and associated trails.
- South Mountain Park and Preserve: Holbert Trail, Mormon Trail, Hau’Pal Loop Trail and access to the National Trail from the Pima Canyon Trailhead.
A man died last week after being rescued from the White Tank Mountains with two other hikers. They’d called for help due to heat exhaustion.
While it’s still early, Maricopa County is behind last year’s pace for heat-related deaths. Valley health officials have determined that heat was a factor in 22 deaths so far this year, with 314 cases still under investigation.
Through this point in 2024, 27 heat-related deaths had been confirmed and 408 were under investigation.
When all was said and done, 608 heat-related deaths were confirmed last year. That was down from the 2023 total but still the second-highest mark on record.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Colton Krolak contributed to this report.
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