More high heat for Valley
Excessive heat and poor air quality are forecast with above-normal temperatures lingering.
Excessive heat and poor air quality are on tap for the Valley through the weekend, with above-normal temperatures expected to linger through the week.
National Weather Service meteorologist James Sawtelle said “unseasonably hot weather” will kick off the week in the Valley with high temperatures between 6 and 8 degrees above normal.
Temperatures in the Phoenix area could reach between 107 and 110 degrees today and Monday, during which time an excessive heat warning will be in effect.
A “very slight and very gradual” cooling trend will begin on Tuesday, bringing the expected high temperatures down to between 103 and 105 degrees, Sawtelle said, adding that those temperatures are still above normal for this time of year.
The weekend will bring temperatures closer to normal, with anticipated highs hovering around 100 degrees.
Chances for rain in the Valley are slim, though Sawtelle said there could be a “slight uptick” in moisture toward the end of the week.
Sawtelle said people can “tend to get a little overconfident” when it comes to heat in the Valley after the peak of summer, noting that 7% of 2020’s heat-related deaths in Maricopa County happened between September and October.
“When it comes to September heat in Phoenix, you really can’t let your guard down and you really need to respect the heat,” he said, urging the public to do outdoor activities such as exercise and yardwork in the cooler hours of the day.
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality on Friday issued a high pollution advisory for ozone, which is effective in the Phoenix area through today.
The department advised people to stay indoors, particularly if they suffer from asthma, bronchitis, or any heart or lung disease.
High ozone levels are produced by pollutants stemming mostly from vehicles and industries. The department asked residents to help reduce ozone levels by driving less, refueling gas tanks in the evening, and avoid waiting in drive-thru lines if possible.