Phoenix is under an Extreme Heat Warning today, Saturday, July 25, with a high near 117°F easing to about 115°F by afternoon and heat index values up to 118 — if you don’t have to be outside between late morning and sunset, don’t be, and push yard work, dog walks, or errands to before 8 AM or after 7 PM.
Today’s Setup
Overnight lows only bottomed out around 96°F with a light west-southwest breeze, and the National Weather Service in Phoenix notes the midnight temperature was already 107°F — hot enough that there’s a decent chance of breaking the all-time record warm low this morning, and if a westerly breeze holds through sunrise, forecasters say Phoenix could even see its first-ever 100°F low. Saturday’s high near 117°F comes with west wind 5 to 10 mph, then Saturday night stays brutal too, with a low around 94°F that actually rises back to near 96°F overnight.
Storms, Dust & Flash Flood Risk
A strong outflow boundary is expected to push through south-central Arizona late this afternoon and evening, bringing a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after about 5 PM, patchy blowing dust roughly 7 to 8 PM, and wind gusts as high as 30 mph overnight. The Weather Prediction Center has a slight risk of excessive rainfall posted for the broader Southwest today, so any storm that fires near metro Phoenix could dump heavy rain fast — steer clear of normally dry washes and arroyos if you see water moving.
What To Wear Or Pack
Dress light: a lightweight linen shirt breathes better than cotton in this heat, and men’s sport sandals beat closed shoes for anyone out early. Keep water ice-cold in an insulated tumbler 30oz, and if you’re headed toward a pool or splash pad, grab sun protection while it’s cheap — the UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie deal is worth grabbing before the next monsoon storm rolls dust and sun back in.
Around Town This Week
Tonight, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolls into Mortgage Matchup Center and Les Miserables opens at Phoenix Theatre-AZ — both indoor venues, so heat isn’t a factor once you’re inside, just the walk from the parking lot. Lindsey Stirling plays Arizona Financial Theatre Tuesday, July 28. On Saturday, August 1, the Phoenix Mercury host the New York Liberty at Mortgage Matchup Center; it’s an indoor, climate-controlled arena, but with highs still likely well over 100°F that day, hydrate before you park and walk in. Get tickets on SeatGeek and grab Official team gear on Fanatics before tip-off.
Next Few Days
The NWS Phoenix forecast calls for temperatures to ease slightly early next week as high pressure weakens, then climb back into widespread Major and Extreme heat risk by the latter half of the week. Typical monsoon storm chances next week favor northern Arizona’s high terrain and southeast Arizona, with only low chances over the south-central Arizona lower deserts, so don’t count on much relief here at home.
With temps this brutal, cooking is the last thing you want to do — a cold Thai noodle salad, a build-your-own wrap bar, or smoothie bowls blitzed in a high-powered blender and sipped from that insulated tumbler 30oz on the patio all beat standing over a hot stove. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
