Highlights
- An Extreme Heat Warning remains in effect for the Phoenix Valley and much of Arizona's deserts through Friday night.
- Wednesday's high is forecast at 110 degrees, five degrees above normal, with humidity making it feel warmer.
- Storm outflows from Eastern and Southern Arizona could push blowing dust into the Valley by Wednesday evening, with a 20% chance of rain.
- Heat near or above 110 degrees is expected to continue through the weekend and into next week, with storm chances dropping to about 10% Friday through Sunday.
An Extreme Heat Warning covers the Phoenix Valley and much of Arizona's desert through Friday night, with Wednesday's high forecast at 110 degrees, five degrees above normal and five degrees below the daily record, according to Arizona's Family meteorologist April Warnecke. High humidity will push the felt temperature a couple of degrees higher.
A surge of moisture moving into Arizona Wednesday, combined with shifting high pressure, is expected to increase monsoon storm activity. Warnecke says storm activity will be concentrated in Eastern and Southern Arizona, with gusty outflows potentially reaching the Valley by evening. Those outflows could also bring blowing dust. Outflows from storms to the east and south could collide and generate new storms over the Valley Wednesday evening.
The National Weather Service Phoenix office confirms that distant outflow boundaries may reach the lower deserts, resulting in gusty winds and areas of blowing dust. The rain chance for the Valley stands at 20% Wednesday. KTAR and AZCentral are also tracking the warning through Friday.
Thursday carries similar storm odds, though Warnecke notes that significant Valley storm activity Wednesday evening would reduce Thursday's chances. Storm probability drops to near 10% Friday through the weekend, while intense heat with highs near or above 110 degrees and morning lows in the upper 80s to low 90s is expected to persist through next week.
The Extreme Heat Warning runs through Friday night.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- AZ Family (3TV/CBS5) retrieved 19/08/2026 12:55
- weather.gov retrieved 19/08/2026 12:55
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 19/08/2026 12:55. Every claim traces to a source.
