Phoenix is baking under a sunny sky today, Sunday, July 26, with a high near 109°F and heat index values climbing as high as 114°F — the National Weather Service has an Extreme Heat Warning in effect, so wrap up any outdoor errands before mid-morning and treat the afternoon as a stay-cool situation.
Today’s Setup
The overnight low only dropped to around 92°F, and today’s westerly wind stays light at 5 to 10 mph. Forecasters at the NWS Phoenix office say a strong outflow boundary will push through south-central Arizona later this afternoon and this evening, with gusts potentially reaching 30 to 50 mph. Thunderstorms currently firing near Flagstaff and the Mogollon Rim are trending southward and could clip the northern fringes of Maricopa County and southern Gila County — a slight chance of showers and storms follows for the lower desert itself.
Best Window To Be Outside
If you’re hitting Camelback Mountain, South Mountain Park, or the canal paths, be finished before 8 a.m. Afternoons are dangerous, not just uncomfortable. If storms and outflow winds do arrive this evening, blowing dust is possible — postpone evening walks until conditions settle after sunset.
Rain, Wind, Fire, Or Heat Risk
Heat is the headline: 109°F today and 110°F Monday, with heat index readings up to 114°F and 113°F respectively. Hydrate constantly, check on elderly neighbors, and never leave kids or pets in a car. The outflow winds tonight bring a secondary risk of gusty, dusty conditions and isolated lightning — keep an eye on the sky if you’re out late.
What To Wear Or Bring
Breathable footwear matters more than fashion right now — men’s sport sandals or bamboo no show socks keep feet cooler on hot pavement. If you’re cooling off at a backyard pool or splash pad, grab a women’s swimsuit or quick dry swim trunks, and keep an insulated tumbler 30oz topped off with ice water everywhere you go.
Tonight & This Week’s Events
Indoors is the move tonight: Les Miserables plays Phoenix Theatre-AZ, and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey brings The Greatest Show On Earth to Mortgage Matchup Center. Tuesday, Lindsey Stirling’s Duality Untamed Tour hits Arizona Financial Theatre — grab tickets on SeatGeek before they’re gone. Friday, Grupo Frontera plays Mortgage Matchup Center; fans can pick up a Grupo Frontera t-shirt and find tickets on StubHub. On August 1, the Phoenix Mercury host the New York Liberty at Mortgage Matchup Center — it’s indoors, so heat’s a non-issue for the game itself, but grab Official team gear on Fanatics before tip-off.
Meal Idea
Too hot to turn on the stove tonight — a cold Thai noodle salad, a build-your-own wrap bar, or smoothie bowls are the move. A high-powered blender makes quick work of smoothie bowls, and that insulated tumbler 30oz keeps drinks cold for hours. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Monday holds near 110°F with heat index values to 113°F, and there’s a 27% chance of evening storms as typical monsoon activity settles back in — favoring the high terrain over the deep desert. The NWS expects a slight cooldown in the first half of the work week before high pressure rebuilds late week, bringing another round of dangerously hot temperatures. For more outdoor gear ahead of the heat, check out outdoor gear deals, including a UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie for $5.
