Highlights
- Phoenix temperatures are expected to hit the low 100s this week, peaking near 105 degrees Wednesday and Thursday.
- The last measurable rainfall in Phoenix was March 29; only trace amounts fell in April and May.
- NWS meteorologist Sean Benedict says lower-than-normal snowpack could trigger an earlier-than-usual monsoon high pressure system.
- El Niño conditions in the Pacific may push additional tropical moisture into the desert Southwest later in the summer.
Phoenix is opening June with triple-digit heat, and the National Weather Service says temperatures will peak near 105 degrees by midweek before easing slightly, while staying in the 100s, as moisture begins pushing into the region.
Meteorologist Sean Benedict told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday that "the first week of June, we're going to see high temperatures in Phoenix hitting those low 100s, maybe pushing right around the 105 mark for the middle of the week." Highs are expected to crest Wednesday and Thursday.
Rainfall is not part of the near-term picture. March 29 was the last date Phoenix recorded measurable precipitation, with only trace amounts falling in April and May. Benedict said storm activity will stay confined to the mountains: "We're only looking at showers and storms developing toward far eastern Arizona over some of the mountains. So, you might be able to see that from Phoenix, but overall our chances of seeing anything in Phoenix are very low."
What's Phoenix's monsoon season rainfall outlook?
The monsoon season runs June 15 through Sept. 30, and Benedict said conditions could develop earlier than usual. Lower snowpack in the high country is a factor: "With less snowpack, we're anticipating a potentially earlier development of the monsoon high pressure system. Due to those warmer grounds you can develop that circulation, and then that could draw in moisture sooner," he said. The prevailing El Niño pattern in the Pacific may also drive additional storm activity, particularly later in the summer, as warmer eastern Pacific waters increase the odds of tropical cyclone development pushing moisture into the desert Southwest.
Overall odds favor above-normal monsoon rainfall this season, Benedict said. The NWS Phoenix forecast office confirmed triple-digit readings are expected to persist through the coming week, consistent with the KTAR report.
The next significant weather signal to watch: whether the monsoon high pressure system establishes itself ahead of the June 15 official start date.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- ktar.com retrieved 01/06/2026 21:06
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 01/06/2026 21:06. Every claim traces to a source.
