Phoenix is waking up to crystal-clear skies this Sunday with a high near 94°F — but the National Weather Service warns that south winds of 5 to 15 mph will strengthen significantly this afternoon, with gusts up to 25 mph. Get your outdoor time in early; by late afternoon the Valley turns blustery. Stay current with the full Phoenix weather forecast.
Today’s Setup
A shortwave trough dropping south through Nevada will re-energize the pressure gradient across the region this afternoon and evening, per the NWS Phoenix forecast discussion. Winds that ease up during the late morning will surge again after about 2–3 PM MST, with the gustiest stretch running through tonight. Southwest gusts after sunset could reach 25–30 mph across the metro. Calm mornings, rowdy afternoons — plan accordingly.
Best Window To Be Outside
Early risers win today. Trails at Camelback Mountain and South Mountain Park will be comfortable through midmorning with temps in the low-to-mid 70s and just a light breeze. Golfers, tee up before 10 AM — afternoon rounds into a 25 mph headwind aren’t fun, though you can snag Men’s Golf Shorts for $14.85 on Amazon to at least look the part. If you’re setting up any outdoor structure today, a pop-up canopy tent with weights is the right call — standard stakes won’t hold in these gusts.
Wind & Gear Risk
Phoenix patios are vulnerable this afternoon. Patio umbrellas, potted plants, and lightweight furniture can become projectiles in 25 mph gusts. Pull things in or weigh them down — outdoor furniture covers protect cushions and frames, and a bungee cord assortment is cheap insurance for anything you can’t move inside. Allergy sufferers: wind kicks up pollen and dust Valley-wide, so keep your Levoit air purifier large room running indoors.
Upcoming Games & Events
The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants at Chase Field starting Tuesday, May 19 — a three-game homestand worth planning around. Monday’s cooldown to 88°F (4 to 6 degrees below normal, per NWS forecasters) makes the early part of the week the most comfortable stretch. Grab an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey and an Arizona Diamondbacks fitted cap and Get tickets on SeatGeek or Find tickets on StubHub.
Also Tuesday, May 19: the Demi Lovato: It’s Not That Deep Tour lands at Desert Diamond Arena. Evening temps will be in the mid-to-upper 70s — ideal outdoor concert weather. A Demi Lovato t-shirt is the move for the night. The Phoenix Mercury host the Toronto Tempo the same evening at Mortgage Matchup Center — indoor, so weather is irrelevant, but great timing for a double-event weekend.
Grill Tonight
Sunday evenings in Phoenix were made for the backyard. Clear skies, a cooling breeze, and temps tumbling into the upper 60s by nightfall — fire up the grill for burgers, steaks, or grilled chicken with corn on the cob. An instant-read meat thermometer keeps everything off the guesswork, and a grill brush and scraper set gets your grates clean before the first sear. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Monday brings a pleasant cooldown — sunny with a high near 88°F as the trough moves east. Tuesday stays mild before temperatures slowly climb back toward seasonal normals later in the week. No rain in the forecast through at least mid-week. Enjoy this brief reprieve; Phoenix summer is knocking.
