Phoenix is baking under sunny skies today, Tuesday, August 4, with the high climbing to near 109°F and the heat index feeling like 113°F by afternoon — the National Weather Service says get any outdoor chores, dog walks, or workouts done before mid-morning, because this isn’t a day to be outside past 10 AM.
Today’s Setup
The upper-level ridge parked over central Arizona weakened slightly over the weekend but has now stabilized, according to the National Weather Service Phoenix office, and it won’t budge much through Wednesday. Winds stay light out of the west-southwest at 0 to 10 mph, skies are essentially cloudless, and today’s rain chance sits at just 1% — this is a dry, sunny scorcher, not a monsoon day.
Best Window To Be Outside
If you’re watering the yard or getting a walk in before work, aim for sunrise to around 8 or 9 AM, while temperatures are still in the 80s. By midday the heat index tops 110°F, and it stays dangerously hot well after sunset — overnight lows only drop to around 89°F before climbing back toward 91°F.
Heat, Dust, And Flash Flood Risk
Forecasters say dew points have climbed into the 60s, which is why the air feels even hotter than the thermometer suggests — heat indices near 110 to 115°F are expected to persist through the end of the workweek. Patchy blowing dust is possible again tonight before 3 AM and again between 11 PM and 3 AM Wednesday morning, with gusts up to 25 mph out of the south-southwest — if visibility drops in blowing dust while you’re driving, pull off the roadway and wait it out. The Weather Prediction Center also has a slight risk of excessive rainfall for southern Arizona, mainly southeast of the Valley, but any storm firing up Wednesday afternoon near South Mountain or the East Valley could still bring brief heavy downpours and flash flooding in low-lying washes.
Gear Up And Grab Tickets
Stock up on a Yeti rambler water bottle before you’re outside for any stretch, and consider blackout curtains if the heat is wrecking your sleep schedule. This UPF 50+ Sun Hoodie deal is worth grabbing too if you’re headed toward Camelback Mountain or South Mountain Park early. It’s also a big week for Valley sports and music: the Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Diego Padres at Chase Field Wednesday through Friday, Aug. 5-7 — grab an Arizona Diamondbacks jersey or Arizona Diamondbacks fitted cap and Find tickets on StubHub. Wednesday’s game features hot pregame conditions with a late slight chance of storms, so keep an eye on the sky. Don Toliver brings the Octane World Tour to Desert Diamond Arena Thursday, Aug. 6 — pick up a Don Toliver t-shirt or Don Toliver hoodie before the show. O.A.R. and Kali Uchis also play the Valley Friday, Aug. 7, at Arizona Financial Theatre and Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre — Get tickets on SeatGeek while seats last. Browse more outdoor gear deals before you head out into the heat.
With temperatures this brutal, keep dinner simple and low-effort — a cold pasta salad or a quick stir-fry beats standing over a hot stove. Need ingredients? You can order groceries on Amazon and have everything for tonight’s dinner delivered to your door.
Next Few Days
Expect little relief: Wednesday holds near 108°F with a slight chance of evening storms, and the National Weather Service expects heat indices of 110 to 115°F to continue into the weekend as moisture builds. Stay hydrated, limit midday outdoor time, and watch for blowing dust each evening.
