Phoenix wakes up today under a slight chance of leftover morning showers, with skies clearing to partly sunny and a high near 96°F as storm activity retreats toward the high country by afternoon. If you’re planning a run, a hike up South Mountain, or a trip to Chase Field, the safest window is midday through mid-afternoon before storm chances tick back up tonight.
Today’s Setup
The National Weather Service says widely scattered showers were redeveloping over south-central Arizona early this morning, with parts of Maricopa County picking up a few hundredths to a tenth of an inch of rain around sunrise. By this afternoon, that activity should largely shift toward the high terrain, aside from a few storms possibly reaching south Gila County. Thanks to thick cloud cover, today’s high is running 8 to 10 degrees below normal, keeping most of the Valley in the 80s and 90s while areas out toward the Lower Colorado River Valley see 100-107°F.
Best Window To Be Outside
Late morning into early afternoon looks calmest, with light winds around 5 mph out of the north. Overnight, another round of slight-to-chance storms is possible between 11 PM and 3 AM, so wrap up evening plans around Papago Park or the canals before then.
Rain, Flash Flood, And Heat Risk
The Weather Prediction Center has Arizona, including the high terrain toward the Mogollon Rim, under a Slight Risk for excessive rainfall today, with rain rates potentially topping half an inch per hour in the strongest cells. That’s mainly a concern up in the high country and in desert washes, so avoid crossing flooded low-water spots near South Mountain Park or the Salt River. A packable rain jacket or compact travel umbrella is worth keeping in the car given the on-and-off shower chances.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light layers work best — it’s warm and humid by desert standards, but clouds and a stray shower are both possible. Hitting the trails at Camelback Mountain once the sun breaks through? Waterproof hiking boots handle muddy patches better than trail runners.
Game Day, Concerts, And Dinner
The Arizona Diamondbacks host the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field today, and with clouds and shower chances lingering, an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey and Arizona Diamondbacks fitted cap are smart grabs if you’re heading downtown — get tickets on SeatGeek before first pitch. Music fans have options tonight too: the Forrest Frank concert hits Mortgage Matchup Center, and a Forrest Frank t-shirt makes a solid souvenir. If the morning clouds have you leaning toward staying in, the 50-inch Pioneer 4K Roku TV deal at Best Buy (/home/50-inch-pioneer-4k-roku-tv-160-best-buy-deal/) is worth a look for catching the game from the couch.
With clouds lingering and a shower possible tonight, it’s a good night for something warm and slow-cooked — think chili or a hearty beef stew. A programmable slow cooker or enameled cast iron Dutch oven makes it easy. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Sunday brings a similar pattern with a high near 99°F, and the National Weather Service expects thunderstorm chances to ramp up again early next week, spreading into the Phoenix-area lower deserts by Tuesday and Wednesday. Check the Phoenix weather forecast and browse outdoor gear deals before your next hike.
