PHOENIX — The heat is on!
With high pressure building in, Phoenix is facing its first 110-degree days of the year this week.
On average, our first 110-degree day happens around June 11th. The earliest on record was May 8, 1989.
This year, it is likely to be Wednesday, June 5th with a forecast high in Phoenix of 110 degrees.
Excessive Heat Warnings are in effect for the Valley and much of Arizona's lower elevations Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. So, those will be ABC15 Weather Action Days as a reminder to take action to keep yourself and others safe in this dangerous heat.
The risk of heat-related illnesses (like heat exhaustion and heat stroke) will ramp up even more as temperatures approach 114 degrees on Thursday and 113 degrees on Friday.
We could set a new record high on Thursday, breaking the current record of 111 degrees set in 2016.
Overnight low temperatures are going to warm into the 80s and those could set records, too.
The dangerous combination of warm mornings and sizzling hot afternoons will heighten the risk for heat-related illnesses, so now is the time to prepare. Stay hydrated, limit time outside in the heat of the day, take breaks in the air conditioning or shade, and never leave kids or pets in your vehicle.
We are also continuing to deal with high ozone pollution in the Valley. This is the prime season for it during these long, sunny days with generally light winds.
Another Ozone High Pollution Advisory is in effect on Wednesday.
If you have asthma, COPD, or any other respiratory issue, limit your time outside in the afternoon hours on high pollution days or you may have difficulty breathing. Exposure to ozone can increase the number and severity of asthma attacks, cause or aggravate bronchitis or other lung disease, and reduce the body's ability to fight infection.
Kids, older adults and anyone trying to exercise outside may experience health impacts from this ozone pollution, too. Symptoms may include itchy eyes, nose and throat, wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and upper respiratory issues.
We can all help prevent the pollution problem from getting worse. If you have a gas vehicle, try to drive as little as possible this week. Carpooling, working from home, or re-fueling your vehicle in the evening helps, too.
As high pressure centers up to our east later this week, we will be tracking some moisture moving into Arizona. That will lead to a slight chance of isolated showers and thunderstorms in the high country starting Thursday and continuing through the weekend.
Not much rain is expected with any storms that develop, so we will really have to watch out for lightning sparked wildfires.
This will be a bit of a monsoon season preview for parts of our state. The monsoon officially begins on June 15th.
The outlook this year has odds favoring another drier and hotter than normal season.
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2024 Rainfall totals:
Sky Harbor Official Rainfall: 3.80" (+0.88" from average)
Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 3.81"
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2023 Rainfall totals:
Sky Harbor Official Rainfall: 4.21" (-3.01" from average)
Valley Average (Phoenix Rainfall Index): 5.47"
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Daily rainfall reports from all across the Valley can be found here.
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PHOENIX IS GETTING DRIER - LOWER RAINFALL AVERAGES NOW
Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 2.71" of rain
NEW Average Monsoon Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 2.43" of rain
Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1981-2010): 8:03" of rain
NEW Average Yearly Rainfall in Phoenix (1991-2020): 7.22" of rain
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