Triple-digit temperatures forecast for metro Phoenix this weekend

Kye Graves, Arizona Republic
·4 min read
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Temperatures in metro Phoenix will be "well above normal" this weekend.

Highs in the upper 80s to low 90 degrees were expected to be put on hold throughout the next several days as seasonal temperatures will depart from the Phoenix area, ushering in a familiar warming trend for the metro.

For Saturday, the National Weather Service expects temperatures to hover around the mid-90s and ramp up on Sunday.

"By Sunday we'll be into the upper 90s, with possibly a few places touching 100 degrees," meteorologist Mark O'Malley of the weather service told The Arizona Republic. "Typically this time of year the high temperature is right around 90 degrees, so by Sunday we'll be almost a good 10 degrees above normal."

Sunday runs a 50% chance of tying the date's all-time high set at 103 in 1991.

Related: Heat-associated deaths in Phoenix approach 400, on track to outpace 2022

The catalyst for the return to near triple-digit temps this late in the season is due to a "quite strong" area of high pressure strengthening throughout the region, O'Malley said.

Phoenix is forecasted to keep the heat rolling past the weekend as well, with the weather service listing highs up to 102 and 101 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

According to weather service statistics, 2023 has registered the fifth most 100+ degree days in Phoenix on record, with 126 as of Friday. The looming forecast will likely add to that tally, pushing it well above the 1991-2020 average of 111 days but still shy of the 2020 record of 145.

O'Malley added that a slight bit of cooling could be expected toward the middle and end of next week but would still be above seasonal norms in the mid-90s. Precipitation chances also remain to be seen for the Valley, currently at zero.

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Hot weather tips

With temperatures on the rise again in metro Phoenix this weekend, the Arizona Department of Health Services provided the following tips to prevent heat-related illness:

  • Drink water: It is recommended to drink at least 2 liters of water per day if people are staying inside all day. Those who spend time outdoors should drink 1 to 2 liters per hour they are outside.

  • Dress for the heat: wear lightweight and light-colored clothing. Sunscreen should always be applied to exposed skin, and it is recommended to wear a hat or use an umbrella when outdoors.

  • Eat small meals and eat more often: They recommend avoiding foods high in protein that increase metabolic heat.

  • Monitor those at risk: Check on friends, family or others for signs of heat exhaustion or heat stroke.

  • Slow down and avoid strenuous activity: It is recommended to only do strenuous activity during the coolest hours of the day, between 4 a.m. and 7 a.m.

  • Stay indoors.

  • Take breaks when engaged in physical activity: Take a break in a cool place when doing outdoor activity on a hot day.

Hiking tips

Phoenix has provided the following safety measures that hikers should take when hitting the trails:

  • Watch the weather: Yes, "it's a dry heat" — but Arizona's temperature can be deceiving and deadly. Hike when it's cold or cool outside, try early mornings and evenings when there's more shade.

  • Dress appropriately: Wear proper shoes, clothing, hat and sunscreen.

  • Bring water: Hydrate before you go. Have plenty of water, more than you think you need. Turn around and head back to the trailhead before you drink half of your water.

  • Keep in contact: Carry a mobile phone.

  • Team up: Hike with others. If hiking solo, tell someone your start and end times, and location.

  • Be honest: Do you have a medical condition? Asthma, heart problems, diabetes, knee or back problems? Don't push yourself! "Even trained athletes have been caught off guard by getting dehydrated on Arizona trails."

  • Don't trailblaze: Enjoy the Sonoran Desert's beautiful and undeveloped landscape, but please stay on designated trails.

  • Take responsibility: Don't be "that person" — the one who wasn't prepared, shouldn't have been there for health reasons or ignored safety guidelines. Be the responsible hiker, who takes a hike and does it right!

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Metro Phoenix weekend weather includes high temperatures