Phoenix is waking up to a mostly sunny Sunday with a high near 109°F, and today marks the calm before a much bigger heat story arrives midweek — the National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Watch for Tuesday through Thursday, with highs forecast between 111 and 116 degrees. If you’ve got outdoor plans, get them done early and lean on the shade.
Today’s Setup
Overnight clouds kept things muggy with a low around 85°F, but the NWS Phoenix office says dry air moving in from the southwest is clearing skies through the day, pushing highs up near 109°F under mostly sunny skies. Winds stay light, generally 0 to 5 mph out of the south-southwest, so there’s no real relief from the breeze. There’s only a slight, 2% chance of a stray shower overnight — not enough to change any plans.
Best Window To Be Outside
Forecasters note the subtropical high is building in from the east-southeast and drifting toward southeast Arizona into Monday, which is exactly why afternoons are getting more dangerous, not less. The safest window is before 9 AM if you’re walking, gardening, or heading to South Mountain or Camelback for a hike — trails should be avoided entirely once temperatures climb past the century mark by mid-morning.
Heat Risk Building Fast
This is the real headline: Moderate to Major Heat Risk develops by Tuesday and holds through at least Thursday, according to the NWS discussion, with highs of 111 to 116°F under the Extreme Heat Watch. Monday’s forecast high of 111°F is already a preview. Treat pets, kids, and anyone without reliable air conditioning as top priority, and check on elderly neighbors — never leave anyone in a parked car this week.
What To Wear Or Bring
Light, breathable layers and constant water are non-negotiable. Heading to tonight’s Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Milwaukee Brewers game at Chase Field? Tailgating in the lot will be brutal in 109°F heat, so pack a soft cooler backpack loaded with ice and water. Seats still open — Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub before first pitch, and rep the team with an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey or Arizona Diamondbacks fitted cap. With triple-digit heat straining the grid all week, the DARAN 288Wh Power Station is a smart, affordable backup for keeping fans or a mini-fridge running if the power blinks.
Helpful Links
Looking ahead, WAVVES plays Crescent Ballroom on Tuesday, July 7, and the Streetlight Manifesto show lands at Marquee Theatre on July 10 — both good reasons to plan outdoor time around the evening cool-down rather than the afternoon furnace.
Tonight’s Dinner
With the AC running nonstop, a hands-off dinner makes sense tonight — a programmable slow cooker or enameled cast iron Dutch oven can turn out chili or stew without heating up the kitchen any further. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Monday stays sunny and even hotter at 111°F, then the real test begins: Tuesday through Thursday bring the Extreme Heat Watch with highs of 111 to 116°F, per the National Weather Service. Forecasters note isolated storm chances could return to Arizona’s high terrain by Tuesday or Wednesday, but Phoenix itself stays dry — this stretch is a heat story, not a rain one.
